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Georg Rollenhagen, Sixteenth-Century Playwright, Pedagogue, and Publicist

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 December 2020

Eli Sobel*
Affiliation:
University of California, Los Angeles 24

Extract

The erudite and industrious Georg Rollenhagen is usually remembered only as author of the Froschmeuseler. Among the authors of the sixteenth century who are accorded at least a paragraph or two in our modern histories of German literature probably none has been so much ignored or become so mistreated a step-child. Study of his life and works reveals a seeming jack-of-all-trades, but he was a master of many. He was a man who spent his life in the narrow limits of a region between Berlin and Magdeburg, yet he created a great school and, more than that, wrote vivid pictures of his time and a long poem, an animal verse-epic, that everybody read.

Type
Research Article
Information
PMLA , Volume 70 , Issue 4-Part-1 , September 1955 , pp. 762 - 780
Copyright
Copyright © Modern Language Association of America, 1955

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References

Note 1 in page 762 Johannes Boite, “Aus der Wittenberger Universitâtsmatrikel, 1560–1660,” Zeitschrifl für deulsche Philologie, xx (1888), 80–88. The first student reference by Bolte is cited as foliows: “1560, 30. Septembris. Georgius Rolwagen Bernouiensis.—Dies ist zweifellos der dichter des Froschmeuseler, Georg Rollenhagen; vgl. Goedeke2 2, 507” (p. 81).

Note 2 in page 762 See H. Holstein, “Das altstâdtische Gymnasium zu Magdeburg von 1524–1631,” Neue Jahrbiicher für Philologie und Pädagogik, cxxx (1884), 129–132.

Note 3 in page 763 Two eds. were printed in 1609, one in 4° and one in 12°. The Leichenpredigt is also appended to the 1680 ed. of Gabriel Rollenhagen's Wakrhaffte LUgen and the 1717 ed. of his Indianische Reisen.

Note 4 in page 764 Sämmtliche Werke, ed. Bernhard Suphan, xviii, 115.

Note 5 in page 764 Tagebücher, Vol. ii, 1 March 1797 and 10 March 1797.

Note 6 in page 765 Cf. Goedeke, Grundriß, 2nd éd., ii, 509.

Note 7 in page 765 Karl Goedeke, Deutsche Dichler des sechzehnten Jahrhunderts, Vols, viii and ix: Frosch-meuseler von Georg Rollenhagen (Leipzig, 1876); Part i, xlvi+286 pp., Part ii, viii+288 pp.

Note 8 in page 767 Neudrucke deulscher Literaturwerke des XVI. und XVII. Jahrhunderls, Nos. 285–287 (Halle, 1930), xix+132 pp. See also Robert Stumpfl, “Thomas Brunners ‘Tobias’ (1561 und Georg Rollenhagens Bühnenbearbeitung (1576),” Zeitschrifl für deutsche Philologi lvii (1932), 157–177.

Note 9 in page 767 Neudrucke, Nos. 270–273 (Halle, 1929), xvi+163 pp. See also Waldemar Kawera “Das Magdeburger Spiel vom reichen Mann und armen Lazarus,” Geschichtsblätter für Stadt und Land Magdeburg, xxxii (1897), 1–32.

Note 10 in page 767 Johannes Bolte, “Quellenstudien zu Georg Rollenhagen,” Sitzungsberichte der pre. ùischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, Sitzung der philosophischhistorischen Klasse vom Dezember, 1929, pp. 668–689. Bolte says (n. 1) : “Ich habe von alien drei Stücken Neudrucl vorbereitet,” in speaking of the three dramas. The article is also interesting for its reproduction of a portrait of Rollenhagen (p. 668). Except for the copper plate reproduced Könnecke's Bilderailas zur Geschichte der deutschen Literatur (1887), p. 113, this is the on Rollenhagen likeness available since M. F. Seidel, Icones virorum aliquot praestantium, Νo. 62, 1671. See also Bolte, n. 9 above, p. iv, n. 1, “Ich habe auch von diesen Stticken [Abraha and Tobias] einen Neudruck vorbereitet.”

Note 11 in page 768 Albert Freybe, Des Bergenfahrer Joch. Schlu's Comedia von dem frommen, gottfwrchtigen und gekorsamen Isaac. Ein Schrift-Denkmal der deutschen Hansa mit Act IV und V ans Georg Rollenhagens Abraham. Zwei Zeugnisse lulherischen Glaubens, 2. erweiterte Aufl. (Norden and Leipzig, 1892), pp. 91–144. See also H. Holstein, Die Reformation im Spiegel-bilde der dramatischen Litteratur des sechzehnten Jahrhunderts (Halle, 1886), pp. 81–83. On the production of Rollenhagen's dramas, see Robert Stumpfl, “Die Bûhnenmoglichkeiten im XVI. Jahrhundert,” Zeitschrift fiir deutsche Philologie, liv (1929), 42–80.

Note 12 in page 768 Goedeke, Grundriß, 2nd ed., ii, 509. Boite, Tobias, p. xviii, is convinced that Terentius is by Rollenhagen and lists it among the plays presented by the students at the Gymnasium (Spring, 1592). See also G. G. Gervinus, Geschichte der deutschen Dichtung, ed. Karl Bartsch, 5th éd., iii, 117–118.

Note 13 in page 770 Gervinus, pp. 70–85;

Note 14 in page 771 On additional evidence for the ascription of these works to Rollenhagen see Holzmani and Bohatta, Deutsches Anonymenlexikon, i 255, “Der Hinckende Both,” and Annalet der poetischen National-Lileratur der Deutschen im 16. u. 17. Jahrhunderl, ed. Emil Welle; (Freiburg i. B., 1862–64), Supplement 1870–87. For Der Post Bothe see Holzmann an (Bohatta, iv (Nachtrâge), p. 271, and Catalog der Bibliothek der Cantonal-Lehranstalten it Zurich, Fortsetzung [iii] Enthaltend den Zuwachs von 1859–1898 (Zurich, 1900–04). Fo: Der Post Reuter see Holzmann and Bohatta, iii, 288, and Verzeichnis der von Meusebaclischei Bibliothek (Berlin, 1855), p. 54.

Note 15 in page 771 In Der Hinckende Both, sig. Blv, in Der Post Reuter, sig. Bl, and in Der Post Bothe sig. Clv. The lines may be regarded as Einschiebsel; they are not necessary for an understanding of the context, and since Rollte is capitalized in all 6 occurrences (2 editions for each of the 3 works) it appears that Rollenhagen thought a clue to his “anagram” was necessary.

Note 16 in page 772 I am presently engaged in editing these and the other unedited Rollenhagen works.

Note 17 in page 773 5th éd., iii, 71, n. 91.

Note 18 in page 773 Wakrhaffte Lügen (1603), sig. A4 and A4V; (1619), sig. A4.

Note 19 in page 774 Reprinted in an article by W. Seelmann, “Georg Rollenhagen,” Geschicklsblatler für Siadt und Land Magdeburg, xxrv (1889), 89–96.

Note 20 in page 775 Reprinted in an unsigned contribution among the miscellany in Archiv fur Littera- turgeschichte, v (1876), 491–492.

Note 21 in page 775 Reprinted in an article by Isak Collijn, “Ein Danksagungsgedicht von Georg Rollen- hagen an Heinrich Rantzau fur Darleihung von Handschriften,” Von Biichem una Men- schen: Festschrift Fedor von Zobeltitz zum 5. Oktober 1927 uberreicht von der Gesellschaft der Bibliofhilen (Weimar, 1927), pp. 42–46.

Note 22 in page 775 Reprinted in an article by H. Holstein, “Ein Gedicht von Georg Rollenhagen,” Geschichtsblatter für Stadt und Land Magdeburg, xxviii (1892), 376–377.

Note 23 in page 775 For references to other Rollenhagen correspondence see the biographical article by W. Seelmann in the ADB, xxrx (1889), 84, 107; see also F. Berthau, “Aus dem Brief-wechsel Heinrich Rantzaus von 1570–1594,” Zeitschrift der Gesellschaft für Schleswig- Holstein-Lauenburgische Geschichte, xxii (1892), 244, 255, 274, 275.

Note 24 in page 776 Reprinted in an article by Otto Heinemann, “Ein Brief Georg Rollenhagens,” Ge- schichtsblcitter fur Stoat und Land, Magdeburg, li/lii (1918), 271–274.

Note 25 in page 776 Reprinted (with the reply) in an article by K. von Kauffungen, “Die Korrespondenz des Dichters Georg Rollenhagen mit dem Rate der Kaisrl. freien Reichstadt Miihlhausen in Thiiringen vom Jahre 1590,” Gesckichtsblatter fiir Stadt und Land Magdeburg, xli (1906), 126–128.

Note 26 in page 776 Reprinted in an article by Alb. Kirchhoff, “Ein Brief Georg Rollenhagens,” Zeitschrift fur deutsche Philologie, v (1873), 75–76.

Note 27 in page 776 Reprinted in an article by Max Schneider, “Ein Brief von Georg Rollenhagen,” Zeitschrift fur deutsche Philologie, xxix (1898), 535.

Note 28 in page 777 Both dates are wrong; Rollenhagen died on 20 May. Cf. W. Seelmann, “Georg Rollen-hagen,” Geschichtsblätler fiir Stadt und Land Magdeburg, xxiv (1889), 109.

Note 29 in page 777 Add to the items in Jördens a query, signed “K,” “Litterarische Anfrage nach Rollen- hagens Froschmeuseler,” Litterarische Blatter, ii (1803), No. 7 (12 Feb.), cols. 110–111. It begins, “Des berûhmten Magdeburgischen Rectors Ge. Rollenhagens Froschmeuseler ist bekannt genug …” and then seeks information on all possible editions of the work, citing all those known to K.” An unsigned reply, “Von Ausgaben des Froschmeuselers,” listing 4 editions unknown to “K” appeared in No. 21 (26 Nov.), col. 351.

Note 30 in page 777 F. W. L. Ltitcke, “Leben und Schriften des Georg Rollenhagen,” Part i (Berlin, 1846), Part ii (Berlin, 1847); Programme des Berlinischen Gymnasiums zum Grauen Kloster.

Note 31 in page 777 Neue Jahrbiicher fiir Philologie und Piidagogik, cviii (1873), 591.

Note 32 in page 778 For the former see n. 2 above; the latter in Schriften des Vereins fiir Reformations- geschichte, Vols, xrv/xv (Halle, 1886).

Note 33 in page 778 Jahrbuch des Vereins fiir niederdeutsche S prachforschung, xiv (1888), 1–4.

Note 34 in page 778 See n. 19 above.

Note 35 in page 778 Jahrbuch des Vereins fiir niederdeutsche Sprachforschung, xviii (1892), 120–123.

Note 36 in page 779 Blatter fiir Handel, Gewerbe und sociales Leben (Montagsblatt der Magdeburgischen Zeitvmg), Jg. xxxxiv (1892), 194 ff.

Note 37 in page 779 Neue Kirchliche Zeitschrift, iii (1892), 989–1008.

Note 38 in page 779 Diss. Strassburg, 1909, 77 pp.

Note 39 in page 779 Subtitled Ein Beilrag zur friihneuhochdeulschen Grammatik (Greifswald, 1928), xvi+288 pp.

Note 40 in page 779 Beitrdge zur Geschichte der deutschen Sprache und Literalur, lii (1928), 445–452.

Note 41 in page 779 Ibid., lv (1931), 207–212.

Note 42 in page 780 See n. 10 above.

Note 43 in page 780 See n. 8 above.