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35-463: Stockholms-Posten was founded by the poet Johan Henric Kellgren , the book printer Johan Christopher Holmberg (1743–1810) and Carl Peter Lenngren (1750–1827), an official at the National Board of Trade (Sweden) . From 1779, it was published every day except Sundays. The paper, as was common in the contemporary press, relied heavily on articles written by the readers by Letter to the editor , which

70-465: A child of the Enlightenment he trusted in a "Christianity of Reason", which oriented itself by the spirit of religion. He believed that human reason (initiated by criticism and dissent) would develop, even without help by a divine revelation. In his writing The Education of Humankind ( Die Erziehung des Menschengeschlechts ) he extensively and coherently lays out his position. The idea of freedom (for

105-620: A close connection with his cousin, Christlob Mylius, and decided to follow him to Berlin. In 1750, Lessing and Mylius teamed together to begin a periodical publication named Beiträge zur Historie und Aufnahme des Theaters . The publication ran only four issues, but it caught the public's eye and revealed Lessing to be a serious critic and theorist of drama. 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 during

140-754: A poem of 44 lines, in the Herzog August Library in Wolfenbüttel. This problem would remain unsolved until 1880. 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 . A 2003 biography of Mendelssohn's grandson, Felix , describes their friendship as one of

175-516: A worthy exponent of earnest moral feeling and wise human sympathies in felicitous and melodious verse. His Samlade skrifter ("Collected works", 3 vols., 1796; a later edition, 1884-1885) were revised by himself. His correspondence with Nils von Rosenstein and with Abraham Niclas Clewberg was edited by Henrik Schück (1886-1887 and 1894). Gotthold Ephraim Lessing Gotthold Ephraim Lessing ( German: [ˈɡɔthɔlt ˈʔeːfʁa.ɪm ˈlɛsɪŋ] ; 22 January 1729 – 15 February 1781)

210-541: Is the ugly great ditch which I cannot cross, however often and however earnestly I have tried to make that leap." In the final leg of his life, Lessing threw himself into an intense evaluation of theology and religion. He did much of his studying by reading manuscripts he found while working as a librarian. While working for the Duke, he formed a close friendship with a family by the name of Reimarus. The family held an unpublished manuscript by Hermann Samuel Reimarus which attacked

245-764: The Seven Years' War between Britain and France, which had effects in Europe. It was during this time that he wrote his famous Laocoön, or the Limitations of Poetry  [ de ] . In 1765, Lessing returned to Berlin, leaving in 1767 to work for three years at the Hamburg National Theatre . Actor-manager Konrad Ackermann began construction of Germany's first permanent national theatre in Hamburg, established by Johann Friedrich Löwen  [ de ] . The owners of

280-527: The age of enlightenment became popular; it has now been given the words, by which it can win the support of the broader burgher classes, and in parallel acquire the light and frivolous tone, which belong to the Gustavians rather than to the age of liberty . In February 1788, Johan Henric Kellgren became its sole publisher, and introduced permanent culture sections with a poetic section and critics of published poetry, theater plays and other cultural phenomena. It

315-642: The basis of his pioneering work on drama, titled Hamburgische Dramaturgie . Unfortunately, because of financial losses due to pirated editions of the Hamburgische Dramaturgie , the Hamburg Theatre closed just three years later. In 1770, Lessing became librarian at the ducal library, now the Herzog August Library ( Herzog-August-Bibliothek , Bibliotheca Augusta ), in Wolfenbüttel under

350-407: The commission of the Duke of Brunswick. His tenure there was energetic, if interrupted by many journeys. In 1775, for example, he accompanied Prince Leopold to Italy. Follower of Spinoza 's philosophy, on 14 October 1771, Lessing was initiated into Freemasonry in the lodge "Zu den drei Goldenen Rosen" in Hamburg. In 1773, he discovered Archimedes ' cattle problem in a Greek manuscript containing

385-521: The economic constraints he faced. His project of authors self-publishing their works, which he tried to accomplish in Hamburg with C. J. Bode , failed. Lessing is important as a literary critic for his work Laocoon: An Essay on the Limits of Painting and Poetry . In this work, he argues against the tendency to take Horace 's ut pictura poesis (as painting, so poetry) as prescriptive for literature. In other words, he objected to trying to write poetry using

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420-606: The faithful Christian's right for freedom of thought. He argued against the belief in revelation and the holding on to a literal interpretation of the Bible by the predominant orthodox doctrine through a problem later to be called Lessing's Ditch . Lessing outlined the concept of the religious "Proof of Power": How can miracles continue to be used as a base for Christianity when we have no proof of miracles? Historical truths which are in doubt cannot be used to prove metaphysical truths (such as God's existence). As Lessing says it: "That, then,

455-448: The feud, and Lessing was silenced through a law that took away his freedom from censorship. In response, Lessing relied upon his skills as a playwright to write what is undoubtedly his most influential play, Nathan the Wise . In the play, Lessing set up tension between Judaism , Islam , and Christianity by having one character ask Nathan which religion was the most genuine. Nathan avoids

490-412: The first German drama of ideas ("Ideendrama"). His theoretical writings Laocoön 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

525-410: The four operas which they produced together, viz., Gustaf Wasa , Gustaf Adolf och Ebba Brahe , Aeneas i Carthago , and Drottning Kristina , are wholly the work of Kellgren. From about 1788 a graver feeling pervades Kellgren's verses, owing partly to the influence of Lessing and Goethe, but probably more directly due to his controversy with Thorild. Of his minor poems written before that date

560-482: The fragment Sigwart och Hilma , and the beautiful song Nya skapelsen , both in thought and form the finest of his works. Among his lyrics are the choicest fruits of the Gustavian age of Swedish letters. His earlier efforts, indeed, express the superficial doubt and pert frivolousness characteristic of his time; but in the works of his riper years he is no mere "poet of pleasure," as Thorild contemptuously styled him, but

595-410: The historicity of Christian revelation. Despite discouragement from his brother Karl Gotthelf Lessing , he began publishing pieces of the manuscript in pamphlets known as Fragments from an Unnamed Author . The controversial pamphlets resulted in a heated debate between him and another theologian, Johann Melchior Goeze. In concern for tarnishing his reputation, Goeze requested the government put an end to

630-447: The most "illuminating metaphors [for] the clarion call of the Enlightenment for religious tolerance ". It was this relationship that sparked his interest in popular religious debates of the time. He began publishing heated pamphlets on his beliefs which were eventually banned. It was this banishment that inspired him to return to theatre to portray his views and to write Nathan the Wise . Early in his life, Lessing showed interest in

665-400: The most important are the charming spring-song Vinterns valde lyktar , and the satirical Mina Löjen , an attack on the songwriter Carl Michael Bellman , and Man äger ej snille för det man är galen . The best productions of what is called his later period are the satire Ljusets fiender , the comic poem Dumboms lefverne , the warmly patriotic Kantat d. 1. Jan. 1789 , the ode Till Kristina ,

700-414: The new Hamburg National Theatre hired Lessing as the theatre's critic of plays and acting, an activity later known as dramaturgy (based on his own words), making Lessing the very first dramaturge . The theatre's main backer was Abel Seyler , a former currency speculator who since became known as "the leading patron of German theatre." There he met Eva König , his future wife. His work in Hamburg formed

735-541: 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 see Miss Sara Sampson and Emilia Galotti as amongst 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

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770-606: The proper uses of drama. Lessing advocated the outline of drama in Aristotle's Poetics . He believed the French Academy had devalued the uses of drama through their neoclassical rules of form and separation of genres. His repeated opinions on this issue influenced theatre practitioners who began the movement of rejecting theatre rules known as Sturm und Drang ("Storm and Stress"). He also supported serious reception of Shakespeare 's works. He worked with many theatre groups (e.g.

805-455: The question by telling the parable of the three rings, which implies the idea that no specific religion is the "correct religion." The Enlightenment ideas to which Lessing held tight were portrayed through his "ideal of humanity," stating that religion is relative to the individual's ability to reason. Nathan the Wise is considered to be the first example of the German "literature of humanity". As

840-485: The same devices as one would in painting. Instead, poetry and painting each has its character (the former is extended in time; the latter is extended in space). This is related to Lessing's turn from French classicism to Aristotelian mimesis , discussed above. The Radical Pietist Johann Daniel Müller  [ de ] (born 1716 in Wissenbach/Nassau, today part of Eschenburg , deceased after 1785) published

875-424: The theatre against the dominance of its French model; for religion from the church's dogma) is his central theme throughout his life. Therefore, he also stood up for the liberation of the upcoming middle and upper class from the nobility making up their minds for them. In his own literary existence he also constantly strove for independence. But his ideal of a possible life as a free author was hard to keep up against

910-552: 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 type of theatre in Germany. With this he especially turned against the then predominant literary theory of Gottsched and his followers. Lessing's Hamburgische Dramaturgie ran critiques of plays that were performed in the Hamburg Theatre, but after dealing with dissatisfied actors and actresses, Lessing redirected his writings to more of an analysis on

945-714: Was a German philosopher , dramatist , publicist and art critic , and a representative 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 in his role at Abel Seyler 's Hamburg National Theatre . Lessing was born in Kamenz , a small town in Saxony , to pastor and theologian Johann Gottfried Lessing  [ de ] (1693–1770) and his wife Justine Salome Feller (1703–1777), daughter of pastor of Kamenz , Gottfried Feller (1674–1733). His father

980-630: Was a Lutheran minister and wrote on theology. Young Lessing studied at the Latin School in Kamenz from 1737 to 1741. With a father who wanted his son to follow in his footsteps, Lessing next attended the Fürstenschule St. Afra in Meissen . After completing his education at St. Afra's, he enrolled at Leipzig University where he pursued a degree in theology, medicine, philosophy, and philology (1746–1748). It

1015-542: Was at one point the lover of the prima donna Fredrique Löwen . His strong satiric tendency led him into numerous controversies, the chief that with the critic Thomas Thorild , against whom he directed his satire Nytt försök till orimmad vers , where he also sneers at the "raving of Shakespeare " and "the convulsions of Goethe ." His lack of humour detracts from the interest of his polemical writings. His poetical works are partly lyrical, partly dramatic; his plays are based on plots by Gustavus III. The songs interspersed in

1050-541: Was born at Floby in Västergötland (now part of Falköping Municipality , Västra Götaland County ). He studied at the Royal Academy of Turku , and already had some reputation as a poet when he became a "docent" in aesthetics at the school in 1774. Three years later he moved to Stockholm , where in 1778 he began publishing the journal " Stockholms-Posten " with Assessor Carl Lenngren  [ sv ] . Kellgren

1085-418: Was common in a period when papers seldom had any permanent staff of journalists. It selected its articles successfully, and while most papers in this period became temporary, Stockholms-Posten became successful and has been called "edited by the public". The paper supported science and intellectualism in oppose to religion, and was viewed as a spokes organ of the new epoch: Only with Stockholms-Posten has

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1120-402: Was followed by A. Wiborg 1813-21 och Anders Lindeberg 1821–33. The last years, the paper was affected by a deteriorating economy, and found hard competition from Aftonbladet , which was founded in 1830. Three years later, Stockholms-Posten was dissolved. Johan Henric Kellgren Johan Henric Kellgren (1 December 1751 – 20 April 1795) was a Swedish poet and critic . He

1155-551: Was here that his relationship with Karoline Neuber , a famous German actress, began. He translated several French plays for her, and his interest in theatre grew. During this time, he wrote his first play, The Young Scholar. Neuber eventually produced the play in 1748. From 1748 to 1760, Lessing lived in Leipzig and Berlin . He began to work as a reviewer and editor for the Vossische Zeitung and other periodicals. Lessing formed

1190-407: Was often a place for literary debates and sometime controversies. Among its more known co-workers were J. Tengström (1779-81), Anna Maria Lenngren , (from 1780), N. L. Sjöberg (1783-?) Carl Gustaf af Leopold (1785–88, 1792), Rosenstein (1787), Regnér (1790s), A. G. Silverstolpe (1793–95) and Franzén (1793–99). In 1795, the paper was taken over by Carl Peter Lenngren, sole editor 1795-1813; he

1225-463: Was sole editor from 1788 onwards. In 1779, he wrote a poem portraying the young and popular actress Ulrica Rosenblad's funeral, a verse quoted in the press. Kellgren was librarian to Gustavus III from 1780, and became his private secretary in 1785. At the establishment of the Swedish Academy in 1786 he was appointed one of its first members. He died at Stockholm. Kellgren was never married, but

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