Georg Wickram facts for kids
Georg Wickram (born around 1505, died before 1562) was an important German writer. He wrote many different kinds of stories and poems. He is known for helping to create a new type of story in German literature, focusing on everyday people rather than just knights.
About Georg Wickram's Life
Georg Wickram was born in a town called Colmar, which is in a region called Alsace. We don't know the exact dates when he was born or when he died.
In 1549, Wickram started a special school in Colmar for "Meistersingers." These were master singers and poets who followed strict rules for their art. Later in his life, he worked as a town clerk in Burkheim on the Rhine River until he passed away.
Wickram's Writings and Stories
Georg Wickram was a very versatile writer, meaning he wrote many different types of works.
He helped edit an old German version of Ovid's Metamorphoses in 1545. This was a famous collection of myths.
In 1555, he published a popular book called Das Rollwagenbuchlein. This book was a collection of funny stories and short tales. The title means "The Little Coach Book," and it was meant to be read by people traveling in horse-drawn coaches. It was one of the best story collections of its time.
Plays and Poems
Wickram also wrote plays, especially for special festivals. These were called Fastnachtsspiele, which were like short, funny plays performed during carnival season. Some of his plays include Das Narrengiessen (1537) and Der treue Eckart (1538).
He also wrote two plays based on stories from the Bible: Der verlorene Sohn (The Prodigal Son, 1540) and Tobias (1551).
In 1556, he wrote a poem called Der irrereitende Pilger (The Errant Pilgrim). This poem was partly funny and partly taught lessons about how to live.
His Novels
Wickram made his biggest impact as a novelist. His main novels include:
- Ritter Galmy aus Schottland (Knight Galmy from Scotland, 1539)
- Gabriotto und Reinhard (1554)
- Der Knabenspiegel (The Boys' Mirror, 1554)
- Von guten und bösen Nachbarn (Of Good and Bad Neighbors, 1556)
- Der Goldfaden (The Gold Thread, 1557)
These novels are important because they were some of the first attempts in German literature to write stories about everyday people. Before Wickram, many stories were about knights and their adventures. His novels helped change this, making way for more modern types of fiction.
