Andreas Gryphius

German playwright and poet. Born in Silesia to a Lutheran pastor, he lost both parents at an early age. Despite the Thirty Years' War, religious persecution, and illness, he became a private tutor to an aristocrat by the age of 20. In 1637, he was named Poet Laureate. In 1638, he went to Leiden University in the Netherlands as a chaperone, and the following year he lectured on philosophy, history, and other subjects. He was said to be fluent in 10 languages ​​at the time. He also studied playwright, and returned to Germany in 1643. The following year, he accompanied the son of an aristocrat on a three-year tour of cities and universities in various European countries. After returning to Germany, he took up an official position, and never left the country, fulfilling his position as Commissioner of Law. In 1662, he was recommended as a member of the "Fruit Society." As a poet and playwright, he played a central role in German Baroque literature. He was known for his early sonnets and various lyric poems, and then, from his middle period onwards, for classical tragedies. His representative tragedies based on Stoic philosophy and Lutheran faith include "Catherine of George" (1647).

[Kuchida Osamu]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

ドイツの劇作家、詩人。シュレージエンでルター派の牧師を父に生まれたが、早くして両親に死別。三十年戦争、宗教上の迫害、病苦に襲われつつも、20歳までには貴族の家庭教師をするまでになった。1637年桂冠(けいかん)詩人を名指される。38年付添い教師としてオランダのライデン大学に行き、翌年には哲学、歴史などの講義を行った。当時10か国の言語に堪能(たんのう)であったという。また劇作を研究し、43年に帰国。翌年から貴族の子息に従い3年間ヨーロッパ各国の都市と大学を歴訪。帰国後は官職につき、終生国を出ず法制長官の職を全うした。62年「結実結社」会員に推挙される。詩人劇作家としてドイツ・バロック文学の中心的活動を行った。初期のソネットをはじめ各種の叙情詩、ついで中期以降はとくに古典形式の悲劇をよくした。ストア派哲学とルター的信仰を基盤とした悲劇の代表作に『ゲオルギアのカタリーナ』（1647）などがある。

［轡田　收］

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例