Christian Gryphius
Christian Gryphius (1649-1706) was a German poet and educator, notable for being the son of the esteemed poet Andreas Gryphius. Born in Fraustadt, Silesia, he faced significant family tragedies early in life, with the loss of several siblings. After a fire in Glogau, where he initially lived, he was raised by his uncle and educated in classical languages. Following the death of his father in 1664, Gryphius became increasingly devoted to a life of piety, which influenced his later work.
He pursued higher education at the University of Jena and later at the University of Strasbourg, where he studied law, theology, philosophy, and history. Gryphius's career included teaching at a Protestant school and serving as rector of the Maria-Magdalena school in Breslau, where he elevated the institution's reputation. He wrote extensively, producing over twenty Latin and eight German dramas, as well as poetry that reflected the literary trends of his time. His works often explored themes of suffering and spirituality, and his correspondence and reference materials are preserved at the university in Wrocław, Poland. Gryphius remains a significant figure in German literature and education during the late 17th century.
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Christian Gryphius
Poet
- Born: September 29, 1649
- Birthplace: Fraustadt, Silesia, Germany (now in Poland)
- Died: March 6, 1706
Biography
Christian Gryphius was born on September 29, 1649, in Fraustadt, Silesia, then a part of Germany and now a part of Poland. He was the son of one of Germany’s greatest poets, Andreas Gryphius. Several months after his birth, the family moved to Glogua, Poland. Not much is known about his childhood except that four of his seven siblings died in their youth. In 1657, much of Glogau was destroyed by fire, and Gryphius was sent to Fraustadt to live with his physician uncle, Jonas Deutschlander. He attended elementary and secondary school in Fraustadt until his uncle died in 1661, and he then returned to Glogau, where he was, at first, tutored by his father. Gryphius’s later tutors stressed the study of classical languages such as Latin and Greek.
Although Gryphius did not inherit all of his father’s talent, he set high standards for himself, had a proclivity for hard work, and was deeply religious. When his father died in 1664, Gryphius was consumed by a need for piety and by the rejection of material things. In 1665, he entered a school in Gotha, Germany, and in 1668 he began to study at the University of Jena, focusing on literature and history. By 1670, he had returned to Glogua, probably because of the death of his mother. In the same year, he entered the University of Strasbourg, where he studied law, theology, philosophy, and history. His studies were largely paid for by a grant from the Breslau City Council. During this time, Gryphius suffered from ill health, nearly dying in 1672. He graduated from the university in 1673, and was hired by the Breslau City Council to teach in the local Protestant school. In May, 1676, he married Anna Maria Herrius, who would later become an invalid. The city council was pleased with Gryphius’s work and made him a full professor, and later the rector, of the Maria-Magdelena school. During his tenure as rector, Gryphius increased the prestige associated with the school.
Gryphius’s first eulogistic poem, “Signaculum Dei,” was published in the year of his father’s death. His second poem, which eulogized his father, was written when he was thirty years old. Much of his poetry clearly shows the simplistic trend that characterized German writing during his era. In addition to his poetry, Gryphius is well known for his dramatic play productions which were part of the curriculum at the Maria-Magdelana school. Between 1682 and 1706, he wrote more than twenty Latin and eight German school dramas which dealt with a variety of topics, including the suffering of Christ. Gryphius is noteworthy because of the many reference works he published, and he was a prolific correspondent. An extensive collection of his letters and other works are housed at the university in Wrocław (formerly Breslau), Poland.