Pedro Calderòn de la Barca facts for kids

Pedro Calderón de la Barca.

Pedro Calderón de la Barca (born January 17, 1600 – died May 25, 1681) was a famous playwright from Spain. He lived during a special time in Spanish history called the Spanish Golden Age, when art and literature were very popular. He wrote many plays that are still performed and studied today.

Who Was Pedro Calderón de la Barca?

Pedro Calderón de la Barca was born in Madrid, the capital city of Spain. His mother, who had family from a place called Flanders, passed away in 1610. His father worked for the government, helping with money matters, and he passed away in 1615.

His Early Life and Education

Young Pedro went to a special school in Madrid run by the Jesuits, a religious group. He was expected to become a priest. However, he decided to study law instead. He went to the famous University of Salamanca to learn about law. Even though he studied law, his real passion was writing plays.

A Master of Spanish Theater

Calderón became one of the most important writers of his time. He wrote many different kinds of plays, including dramas and comedies. His plays often explored big ideas about life, honor, and faith. He was known for his beautiful language and clever stories. He wrote over 100 plays and many shorter religious plays called "autos sacramentales."

Famous Plays by Calderón

Calderón de la Barca wrote many plays that are still well-known. Here are some of his most famous works:

• El médico de su honra (The Surgeon of his Honour)
• La vida es sueño (Life is a Dream) - This is one of his most famous plays, about fate and free will.
• El Alcalde de Zalamea (The Mayor of Zalamea)
• La Dama duende (The Phantom Lady)
• Casa con dos puertas (The House with Two Doors)
• El Mágico prodigioso (The Mighty Magician)
• La Devoción de la Cruz (Devotion to the Cross)
• El Gran Teatro del mundo (The Great Theatre of the World)
• El Gran Mercado del mundo (The World is a Fair)
• El Pintor de su deshonra (The Painter of His Dishonour)
• El Prodigio de Alemania (The Prodigy of Germany) (He wrote this with another writer, Antonio Coello)

Calderón's plays are still studied and performed around the world, showing how important his work was to Spanish literature.