Christian Friedrich Hebbel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Christian Friedrich Hebbel
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Portrait (1851) by Carl Rahl
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| Born | 18 March 1813 Wesselburen, Dithmarschen, Holstein |
| Died | 13 December 1863 (aged 50) Vienna, Austrian Empire |
| Occupation | poet and dramatist |
| Nationality | German |
| Notable awards | Schiller Prize |
Christian Friedrich Hebbel (born March 18, 1813 – died December 13, 1863) was a famous German poet and playwright. He wrote many plays and poems that are still studied today.
Contents
Who Was Christian Friedrich Hebbel?
Christian Friedrich Hebbel was born in a small town called Wesselburen in Holstein. His father was a bricklayer, so Christian came from a humble family. Even so, he showed a great talent for writing poetry from a young age.
His Early Life and Education
Christian went to a grammar school in Hamburg, Germany. His poems were so good that they were published in a local newspaper. A journalist named Amalie Schoppe helped him. Thanks to her support, he was able to attend the University of Hamburg.
A year later, he moved to Heidelberg University to study law. But he soon realized his true passion was literature. He then went to the University of Munich to study philosophy, history, and literature.
Becoming a Famous Playwright
In 1839, Hebbel walked all the way back to Hamburg from Munich. He wrote his first tragedy, Judith, which became very popular. This play made him well-known across Germany.
He continued to write more plays, like Genoveva and a comedy called Der Diamant. In 1842, he received money from King Christian VIII of Denmark. This allowed him to travel to Paris and then spend two years in Italy. While in Paris, he wrote another important play, Maria Magdalena.
Life in Vienna
After returning from Italy, Hebbel settled in Vienna. Some wealthy noblemen admired his talent and helped him financially. This allowed him to meet important people in the city's intellectual circles.
In 1846, Hebbel married Christine Enghaus, a talented and wealthy actress. This marriage brought him stability and peace. It allowed him to focus fully on his writing. He believed that a writer's main duty was to their art.
Even after his marriage, his past experiences continued to inspire him. For example, he wrote the poem Mutter und Kind (Mother and Child). This poem showed that the bond between a parent and child is very important for happiness.
Hebbel became very famous during his lifetime. He received awards and honors from German rulers. He was seen as one of the greatest German playwrights. He lived in Vienna until he passed away.
What Did Christian Friedrich Hebbel Write?
Hebbel wrote many different types of works, especially plays. His plays often explored deep human emotions and difficult situations.
His Main Tragedies
Some of his most important tragedies include:
- Herodes and Mariamne (1850)
- Agnes Bernauer (1855)
- Gyges and His Ring (1856)
- Die Nibelungen (1862) – This was his last major work. It was a trilogy (three plays) and won him the Schiller Prize.
Other Works
He also wrote comedies like Der Diamant and Der Rubin. While these comedies were clever, they are not as well-known as his tragedies.
Hebbel's plays are known for their strong characters and intense feelings. Sometimes, his stories could be a bit extreme. But his poetic talent was clear in many of his lyric poems. His poem Mutter und Kind is a good example of his poetic skill.
He also wrote short stories. These stories often showed his witty observations about society. One of his well-known short stories is "The master tailor Nepomuk Schlägel in the search for joy."
His complete works were first published in 12 volumes between 1866 and 1868.
Music Inspired by Hebbel's Works
Many composers were inspired by Hebbel's writings. They used his poems and plays to create beautiful music.
- The composer Peter Cornelius set Hebbel's poem Requiem to music.
- Max Reger also created a famous Hebbel Requiem. He also set Hebbel's poem "Die Weihe der Nacht" for voice, choir, and orchestra.
- Robert Schumann's opera Genoveva is based on one of Hebbel's plays.
- In 1872, Samuel de Lange used Hebbel's poem "Ein frühes Liebesleben" for a unique musical piece.
- Eduard Lassen wrote music for Hebbel's play Die Nibelungen in 1873.
- Franz Liszt later combined music from Lassen's Die Nibelungen with other works for a piano piece.
- In 1922, Emil von Reznicek composed an opera called Holofernes, based on Hebbel's Judith und Holofernes.
- Anna Teichmüller used Hebbel's text for her composition Schlafen, Schlafen, opus 24.
- The poem "Dem Schmerz sein Recht" was set to music by Alban Berg.
Films About Christian Friedrich Hebbel
One film has been made about Hebbel's life:
- Glutmensch (A man aglow, 1975): This 90-minute film shows Hebbel on his 50th birthday. He is sick and remembers his youth in feverish dreams.
Images for kids
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Christine Hebbel, 1855
See also
In Spanish: Friedrich Hebbel para niños
