Christian Weise and his “Gedichte von der Sicilianischen Argenis” (1683): The Practice of Politics

In March 1683 the pedagogue, dramatist and novelist Christian Weise directed his German stage version of Barclay’s Argenis, which was performed for parents and local dignitaries by the boys at his grammar school in the Saxon city of Zittau. The Gedicht von der Sicilianischen Argenis was, in fact, on...

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Main Author: Anna Linton
Format: Article
Language:Catalan
Published: Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona 2016-11-01
Series:Studia Aurea: Revista de Literatura Española y Teoría Literaria del Renacimiento y Siglo de Oro
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Online Access:https://studiaaurea.com/article/view/202
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author Anna Linton
author_facet Anna Linton
author_sort Anna Linton
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description In March 1683 the pedagogue, dramatist and novelist Christian Weise directed his German stage version of Barclay’s Argenis, which was performed for parents and local dignitaries by the boys at his grammar school in the Saxon city of Zittau. The Gedicht von der Sicilianischen Argenis was, in fact, one of three plays performed on consecutive days during Shrovetide 1683, and one of well over fifty plays written by Weise for performance on the school stage. Weise adapted Argenis as a play in order to teach schoolboys important political lessons, to prepare them for their roles as future civil servants, and to provide them with essential training in practical modern rhetoric. This article discusses Weise’s intentions in staging Argenis, and considers how he adapted the novel for the demands of a necessarily large cast (65 named parts). It sets it in the context of the 1683 trilogy, which included a biblical drama about Saul’s persecution of David and a comedy entitled Die Verkehrte Welt (The Topsy-Turvy World), and it analyses the play against the background of his dramaturgical, pedagogical and political writings.
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spelling doaj-art-eebb28921e6e4c4b8fdcf838372b63002025-08-20T01:56:01ZcatUniversitat Autònoma de BarcelonaStudia Aurea: Revista de Literatura Española y Teoría Literaria del Renacimiento y Siglo de Oro1988-10882016-11-011010.5565/rev/studiaaurea.202125Christian Weise and his “Gedichte von der Sicilianischen Argenis” (1683): The Practice of PoliticsAnna Linton0King's College LondonIn March 1683 the pedagogue, dramatist and novelist Christian Weise directed his German stage version of Barclay’s Argenis, which was performed for parents and local dignitaries by the boys at his grammar school in the Saxon city of Zittau. The Gedicht von der Sicilianischen Argenis was, in fact, one of three plays performed on consecutive days during Shrovetide 1683, and one of well over fifty plays written by Weise for performance on the school stage. Weise adapted Argenis as a play in order to teach schoolboys important political lessons, to prepare them for their roles as future civil servants, and to provide them with essential training in practical modern rhetoric. This article discusses Weise’s intentions in staging Argenis, and considers how he adapted the novel for the demands of a necessarily large cast (65 named parts). It sets it in the context of the 1683 trilogy, which included a biblical drama about Saul’s persecution of David and a comedy entitled Die Verkehrte Welt (The Topsy-Turvy World), and it analyses the play against the background of his dramaturgical, pedagogical and political writings.https://studiaaurea.com/article/view/202Christian WeiseJohn Barclayschool dramapedagogyoratorycivic ethics
spellingShingle Anna Linton
Christian Weise and his “Gedichte von der Sicilianischen Argenis” (1683): The Practice of Politics
Studia Aurea: Revista de Literatura Española y Teoría Literaria del Renacimiento y Siglo de Oro
Christian Weise
John Barclay
school drama
pedagogy
oratory
civic ethics
title Christian Weise and his “Gedichte von der Sicilianischen Argenis” (1683): The Practice of Politics
title_full Christian Weise and his “Gedichte von der Sicilianischen Argenis” (1683): The Practice of Politics
title_fullStr Christian Weise and his “Gedichte von der Sicilianischen Argenis” (1683): The Practice of Politics
title_full_unstemmed Christian Weise and his “Gedichte von der Sicilianischen Argenis” (1683): The Practice of Politics
title_short Christian Weise and his “Gedichte von der Sicilianischen Argenis” (1683): The Practice of Politics
title_sort christian weise and his gedichte von der sicilianischen argenis 1683 the practice of politics
topic Christian Weise
John Barclay
school drama
pedagogy
oratory
civic ethics
url https://studiaaurea.com/article/view/202
work_keys_str_mv AT annalinton christianweiseandhisgedichtevondersicilianischenargenis1683thepracticeofpolitics