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Lessing's Fables: In Prose And Verse
Lessing's In Prose and Verse is a collection of fables written by the German writer Gotthold Ephraim Lessing. The book was first published in 1887 and features a variety of short stories that are designed to teach moral lessons through the use of animal characters and allegory. Each fable is presented in both prose and verse, allowing readers to experience the stories in two different formats. The fables cover a wide range of topics, from the importance of honesty and hard work to the dangers of greed and selfishness. The book is considered a classic of German literature and has been widely read and studied by scholars and students alike. It is a valuable resource for anyone interested in the history of fables and their role in teaching moral values.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.
- GenresShort StoriesClassics
140 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1759
About the author
Gotthold Ephraim Lessing
2,749 books214 followersGotthold Ephraim Lessing was a German writer, philosopher, dramatist, publicist, and art critic, and one of the most outstanding representatives of the Enlightenment era. His plays and theoretical writings substantially influenced the development of German literature. He is widely considered by theatre historians to be the first dramaturg.
Lessing was born in Kamenz, a small town in Saxony. His father was a clergyman and the author of theological writings. After visiting Latin School in Kamenz (from 1737 onwards) and the Fürstenschule St. Afra in Meissen (from 1741 onwards) he studied theology and medicine in Leipzig (1746–1748).
From 1748 to 1760 he lived in Leipzig and Berlin and worked as reviewer and editor for, amongst others, the Vossische Zeitung. In 1752 he took his Master's degree in Wittenberg. From 1760 to 1765 he worked in Breslau (now Wrocław) as secretary to General Tauentzien. In 1765 he returned to Berlin, only to leave again in 1767 to work for three years as a dramaturg and adviser at the German National Theatre in Hamburg. There he met Eva König, his future wife.
In 1770 Lessing became a librarian at the Herzog-August-Bibliothek in Wolfenbüttel. His tenure there was interrupted by many travels. For example, in 1775 he journeyed to Italy accompanied by Prince Leopold.
In 1771 Lessing was initiated into Freemasonry in the lodge "Zu den drei Rosen" in Hamburg.
In 1776 he married Eva König, who was then a widow, in Jork (near Hamburg). She died in 1778 after giving birth to a short-lived son. On 15 February 1781, Lessing, aged 52, died during a visit to the wine dealer Angott in Brunswick.
Lessing was also famous for his friendship with Jewish-German philosopher Moses Mendelssohn. In his celebrated biography of Mendelssohn's famous grandson, Felix, Larry Todd describes their friendship as one of the most "illuminating metaphors [for] the clarion call of the Enlightenment for religious tolerance".
Lessing was a poet, philosopher and critic. His theoretical and critical writings are remarkable for their often witty and ironic style and their unerring polemics. Hereby the stylistic device of dialogue met with his intention of looking at a thought from different angles and searching for elements of truth even in the arguments made by his opponents. For him this truth was never solid or something which could be owned by someone but always a process of approaching.
Early in his life, Lessing showed interest in the theatre. In his theoretical and critical writings on the subject—as in his own plays—he tried to contribute to the development of a new bourgeois theatre in Germany. With this he especially turned against the then predominant literary theory of Gottsched and his followers. He particularly criticized the simple imitation of the French example and pleaded for a recollection of the classic theorems of Aristotle and for a serious reception of Shakespeare's works. He worked with many theatre groups (e.g. the one of the Neuberin).
In Hamburg he tried with others to set up the German National Theatre. Today his own works appear as prototypes of the later developed bourgeois German drama. Scholars generally see Miß Sara Sampson and Emilia Galotti as the first bourgeois tragedies, Minna von Barnhelm (Minna of Barnhelm) as the model for many classic German comedies, Nathan the Wise (Nathan der Weise) as the first German drama of ideas ("Ideendrama"). His theoretical writings Laocoon and Hamburg Dramaturgy (Hamburgische Dramaturgie) set the standards for the discussion of aesthetic and literary theoretical principles. Lessing advocated that dramaturgs should carry their work out working directly with theatre companies rather than in isolation.
In his religious and philosophical writings he defended the faithful Christian's right for freedom of thought. He argued against the belief in revelation and the holding on to a literal
Lessing was born in Kamenz, a small town in Saxony. His father was a clergyman and the author of theological writings. After visiting Latin School in Kamenz (from 1737 onwards) and the Fürstenschule St. Afra in Meissen (from 1741 onwards) he studied theology and medicine in Leipzig (1746–1748).
From 1748 to 1760 he lived in Leipzig and Berlin and worked as reviewer and editor for, amongst others, the Vossische Zeitung. In 1752 he took his Master's degree in Wittenberg. From 1760 to 1765 he worked in Breslau (now Wrocław) as secretary to General Tauentzien. In 1765 he returned to Berlin, only to leave again in 1767 to work for three years as a dramaturg and adviser at the German National Theatre in Hamburg. There he met Eva König, his future wife.
In 1770 Lessing became a librarian at the Herzog-August-Bibliothek in Wolfenbüttel. His tenure there was interrupted by many travels. For example, in 1775 he journeyed to Italy accompanied by Prince Leopold.
In 1771 Lessing was initiated into Freemasonry in the lodge "Zu den drei Rosen" in Hamburg.
In 1776 he married Eva König, who was then a widow, in Jork (near Hamburg). She died in 1778 after giving birth to a short-lived son. On 15 February 1781, Lessing, aged 52, died during a visit to the wine dealer Angott in Brunswick.
Lessing was also famous for his friendship with Jewish-German philosopher Moses Mendelssohn. In his celebrated biography of Mendelssohn's famous grandson, Felix, Larry Todd describes their friendship as one of the most "illuminating metaphors [for] the clarion call of the Enlightenment for religious tolerance".
Lessing was a poet, philosopher and critic. His theoretical and critical writings are remarkable for their often witty and ironic style and their unerring polemics. Hereby the stylistic device of dialogue met with his intention of looking at a thought from different angles and searching for elements of truth even in the arguments made by his opponents. For him this truth was never solid or something which could be owned by someone but always a process of approaching.
Early in his life, Lessing showed interest in the theatre. In his theoretical and critical writings on the subject—as in his own plays—he tried to contribute to the development of a new bourgeois theatre in Germany. With this he especially turned against the then predominant literary theory of Gottsched and his followers. He particularly criticized the simple imitation of the French example and pleaded for a recollection of the classic theorems of Aristotle and for a serious reception of Shakespeare's works. He worked with many theatre groups (e.g. the one of the Neuberin).
In Hamburg he tried with others to set up the German National Theatre. Today his own works appear as prototypes of the later developed bourgeois German drama. Scholars generally see Miß Sara Sampson and Emilia Galotti as the first bourgeois tragedies, Minna von Barnhelm (Minna of Barnhelm) as the model for many classic German comedies, Nathan the Wise (Nathan der Weise) as the first German drama of ideas ("Ideendrama"). His theoretical writings Laocoon and Hamburg Dramaturgy (Hamburgische Dramaturgie) set the standards for the discussion of aesthetic and literary theoretical principles. Lessing advocated that dramaturgs should carry their work out working directly with theatre companies rather than in isolation.
In his religious and philosophical writings he defended the faithful Christian's right for freedom of thought. He argued against the belief in revelation and the holding on to a literal
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 30, 2019
Kitabın sonunda "Fablların üslubu üzerine" ve "Fablların okullarda okutulması üzerine" denemeleri kitabın bence en önemli bölümleri. Ezop fablların zamanına göre yeni bir yorumla ele alması da ezopu yeniden okumaya yöneltiyor. Yaygın bilinenlerin yanında unuttuklarım tekrar gözden geçirdiklerim oldu.
June 13, 2018
The fables in this collection by Lessing were educational—as is the nature of fables. I could have done without the lengthy dissection of the genre that followed the collection however. I’ve always compared such intellectual activities to the difference between watching a beautiful butterfly and killing a beautiful butterfly, cutting it up and looking at the parts under a microscope to learn more about it. I’d much rather watch it flying from flower to flower.
It’s also the reason I find it difficult to write a review of a work of literature. I’d rather limit my comments to “I liked it” or “I didn’t like it” and avoid trying to tell other people whether it’s “good” or not.
I enjoyed reading the 69 pages of fables. I didn’t enjoy reading the 83 pages of analysis.
It’s also the reason I find it difficult to write a review of a work of literature. I’d rather limit my comments to “I liked it” or “I didn’t like it” and avoid trying to tell other people whether it’s “good” or not.
I enjoyed reading the 69 pages of fables. I didn’t enjoy reading the 83 pages of analysis.
August 1, 2021
Das Buch enthält ungefähr 70 Fabeln auf 120 Seiten, die allesamt kurzweilig zu lesen sind. Manchmal braucht es ein wenig Kontext, um sich die Moral der jeweiligen Geschichte zu erschließen, in einigen wenigen Fällen liefert der Autor ihn gleich mit.
Einer meiner Favoriten ist "Der Adler".
Einer meiner Favoriten ist "Der Adler".
April 3, 2022
Yazarın farklı milletler hakkinda laf sokma düzeyinde yorumlarıni çok eğlenceli buldum.
August 12, 2024
ich wusste nicht, dass lessing auch fabeln geschrieben habt - manche fand ich relativ nichtssagend, andere wie die prosafabel „zeus und das pferd“ ultra aufschlussreich und einige echt zum
schmunzeln („der affe und der fuchs“). kann man sich gut geben in nem reading slump :)
schmunzeln („der affe und der fuchs“). kann man sich gut geben in nem reading slump :)
July 14, 2015
Lessing you are my new best friend. See you soon.
October 26, 2019
Na ja, das ist ein bisschen angestaubte Aufklärung...
February 17, 2023
One of the most stunning exponents of folk fable literature
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews