The Plays of Heinrich von Kleist
Ideals and Illusions

An accessible 1996 study of the plays of Heinrich von Kleist (1777–1811), whose work has been highly influential in contemporary German writing.

Seán Allan (Author)

9780521025041, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 16 March 2006

336 pages
21.5 x 14 x 2.3 cm, 0.437 kg

"...this book offers a very readable and thought-provoking introduction to the versatility of Kleist's dramatic genius and his oppositional stance within the idealist frameworks of his time." Bernd Fischer, Modern Philology

This is an accessible 1996 study of the plays of Kleist (1777–1811), who ranks with Goethe and Schiller amongst nineteenth-century authors and who has been a major influence on contemporary German writers. Seán Allan examines Kleist's critique of the aspirations of both Enlightenment and Romantic metaphysics, notably his suggestion that the pursuit of 'transcendent' ideals of perfection constitutes a formidable obstacle to genuine progress in human affairs. In so doing, he offers resolutions of a number of long-running controversies in Kleist criticism, as well as summarizing the state of research on all the plays. The book includes discussion of two plays usually neglected by scholars - Das Käthchen von Heilbronn and Die Hermannsschlacht. All quotations are given in both German and English and full references are given to published English translations of Kleist's works as well as to the German originals.

1. Introduction
Part I. The Young Kleist: 2. The quest for 'Glück'
3. Die Familie Schroffenstein
Part II. Virtue Assailed: 4. Der zerbrochene Krug
5. Amphitryon
Part III. Fictions of Femininity: 6. Penthesilea
7. Das Käthchen von Heilbronn
Part IV. Kleist and the National Question: 8. Die Hermannsschlacht
9. Prinz Friedrich von Homburg
10. Conclusions
Notes
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Literary studies: plays & playwrights [DSG]