Friedrich Dürrenmatt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Friedrich Dürrenmatt
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Dürrenmatt in 1989
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| Born | 5 January 1921 Konolfingen, Bern, Switzerland |
| Died | 14 December 1990 (aged 69) Neuchâtel, Switzerland |
| Occupation | Playwright, novelist |
| Language | German |
| Nationality | Swiss |
| Years active | 1957–1990 |
| Notable works | The Physicists The Visit |
| Spouse | Lotti Geißler (1946–1983) (her death) Charlotte Kerr (1984–1990) (his death) |
| Children | 3 (with Geißler) |
 Literature portal |
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Friedrich Dürrenmatt (5 January 1921 – 14 December 1990) was a famous Swiss writer. He wrote many plays and novels. His stories often explored big ideas and sometimes had a dark, funny side. He was known for a style called "epic theatre." This style made people think deeply about important issues, especially after World War II.
Contents
About Friedrich Dürrenmatt's Life
Friedrich Dürrenmatt was born in Konolfingen, Switzerland. His father was a Protestant pastor. In 1935, his family moved to Bern.
His Education and Early Career
In 1941, Dürrenmatt started studying philosophy and German literature. He went to the University of Zurich and then the University of Bern. By 1943, he decided to become a writer. He stopped his university studies to focus on writing plays and stories.
His first play, It Is Written, was finished in 1946. On October 11, 1946, he married an actress named Lotti Geissler.
Travels and Other Interests
Dürrenmatt traveled quite a bit. He visited the United States in 1969 and Israel in 1974. In 1990, he went to Auschwitz in Poland.
He also enjoyed painting and drawing. Some of his artworks were shown in exhibitions. These shows took place in Neuchâtel in 1976 and 1985, and in Zürich in 1978.
Later Life and Speeches
His first wife, Lotti Geissler, passed away in 1983. Dürrenmatt married another actress, Charlotte Kerr, in 1984.
In 1990, he gave two important speeches. One speech honored Václav Havel. In this speech, Dürrenmatt talked about being watched by the Swiss Secret Service for 50 years. The other speech honored Mikhail Gorbachev. Dürrenmatt often compared different religions and political ideas in his thoughts.
Friedrich Dürrenmatt died in Neuchâtel on December 14, 1990. Since 2000, his works have been displayed at the Centre Dürrenmatt. This center is part of the Swiss National Library.
Friedrich Dürrenmatt's Plays
Dürrenmatt was a master of "epic theatre." This style of play makes the audience think about big ideas. He is considered one of its most original thinkers, alongside Bertolt Brecht.
Early Plays and Success
When he was 26, his first play, It Is Written, caused a lot of discussion. The play was about a fight between a person who loved drama and a very religious person. All of this happened while their city was under attack. The first night of the play in 1947 even led to arguments in the audience!
His first big success was the play Romulus the Great. This play is set in the year 476 A.D. It shows the final days of the Roman Empire. The last emperor, Romulus Augustulus, is shown bringing about its end.
Famous Works and Themes
The Visit (1956) is a mix of comedy and tragedy. It's about a very rich woman who offers her hometown a lot of money. But there's a catch: they must execute the man who broke her heart years ago.
Another well-known play is The Physicists (1962). This play explores important questions about science. It asks about the responsibility scientists have for the powerful and sometimes dangerous changes they bring to the world.
Dürrenmatt also wrote radio plays. Some of these include Hercules in the Augean Stables (1954) and Incident at Twilight (1952). His later works, Labyrinth and Turmbau zu Babel, are collections of his ideas and philosophical thoughts.
Dürrenmatt's Stories in Movies
Many of Friedrich Dürrenmatt's stories and plays have been made into movies. Here are some of them:
- It Happened in Broad Daylight (1958)
- The Marriage of Mr. Mississippi (1961)
- The Visit (1964)
- Once a Greek (1966)
- Play Strindberg (1969)
- Shantata! Court Chalu Aahe (1971), based on A Dangerous Game
- End of the Game (1976), based on The Judge and His Hangman. Dürrenmatt himself appeared in this movie!
- The Deadly Game (1982)
- Justiz (1993)
- The Pledge (2001), based on his novel Das Versprechen
Adaptations of His Works
Dürrenmatt's stories have also been adapted into other forms.
Plays and Musicals
His novel, A Dangerous Game, was turned into a play in India. It was called Shantata! Court Chalu Aahe (Silence! The Court Is in Session) by Vijay Tendulkar in 1967. This play has been performed in many Indian languages and even made into a film.
The Visit has also been adapted into an Indian play called Miss.Meena. It was also made into a musical by Kander and Ebb.
His play "The Incident At Twilight" was adapted into a play called "Sann 2025" by Piyush Mishra.
See also
In Spanish: Friedrich Dürrenmatt para niños
