Anecdote

The anecdote (Greek ἀνέκδοτον, anékdoton, " not published " ) is a literary genre. An anecdote has a remarkable characteristic or event, usually in a person's life, the foundation. The three main features are: the point that it is reduced to the essentials and the sharp characterization of one or several persons.

In everyday language, anecdote refers to the (usually oral ) description of a strange, unusual or comic incident ( without any literary claim ).

A level of knowledge is referred to as anecdotal, which is characterized by adventitious individual facts. Systematic knowledge or deeper connections are missing.

Definition

The term comes from the late antique historian Prokopios of Caesarea ( Προκόπιος ), who wrote a critical work with indiscretions over the Eastern Roman Emperor Justinian I in the 6th century, after his death under the title Ἀνέκδοτα ( Anekdota, often translated as " unpublished memoirs "or" secret history " ) appeared. With this work, which is classified as a literary lampoon, Prokopios widespread targeted gossip (of those reported, however, already earlier authors, such as Suetonius ) or some simple insinuations and falsehoods; in contrast to his historical work, the famous histories to Prokopios tried in the Anekdota not ( at least apparent) objectivity. Rather Prokopios operation here open, very sharp criticism of the emperor and his environment.

Since then, the story is considered a first orally widespread story from the life of a famous personality. A key feature of the anecdote is that it tries to clarify by a seemingly random statement or act the character of a person. Anecdotes have also been previously used by historians to characterize individuals who were at the time as legends. Known for being the historian Plutarch, of the now historical science is convinced that he most of his anecdotes even thought up.

Originally anecdotes have been handed down orally, and later it was regarded as a literary form that was akin to the fable, the farce and the Schnurre. New advances were made in the 18th century by the Enlightenment, which placed the individual at the center and it aimed to highlight personality traits in a concise pointedness. In this sense, Friedrich Nietzsche's famous aphorism is to understand.

For three anecdotes, it is possible to give the image of a man.

The anecdote is a striking reproduction of a true or fictional story that illuminates the character of a people or a state. Anecdotes report facts, however, are not guaranteed. Therefore, it also happens that the same story is told by different people or essential details are fully represented differently. Doris Kunschmann writes in the introduction to her " Great anecdotes Lexicon ":

Not always the authenticity of celebrity sayings is provable, and sometimes haunts the same joke for centuries under different author names through the stairwell of world history.

The architect, art historian and graphic designer David Macaulay in turn compares the anecdote with the cartoon, when he said:

The best portraits are perhaps those in which is found a slight admixture of the cartoon, and it makes wonder if not the best historical works are those in which a bit is used by the exaggeration of the poetic narrative insightfully. This means a small loss of accuracy, but a large gain in effect. The weaker lines are neglected, but the large and characteristic traits are impressed on the mind forever.

The content and design

Anecdotes require a short way with a punchline to function properly. They are related to the short story and the farce. Mark Twain commented as follows on the terms of an anecdote:

For an anecdote you need three things: a punch, a narrator and humanity.

Goethe said on the same topic:

A collection of anecdotes and maxims is the greatest treasure, who is the first one loyal to decorous places this week, the last on in that case white to remember for the man of the world.

Sometimes ( often ) are the authors of anecdotes - like the jokes - unknown. Among the well-known representatives of the anecdote as an art form include Johann Peter Hebel and Heinrich von Kleist.

The anecdotes collectors Gottfried Heindl considers the following to the most important:

There is no true and false, there are only good and bad anecdotes.

He expresses that a story does not have to be authentic in the literal sense. However, it must reflect a particular situation or the trait characteristic of a person to be recognized as well. Although anecdotes help to a sharp snapshot, but only in a certain perspective. The main danger of the anecdote are therefore:

Examples

Diogenes and Alexander

Since ancient times, the alleged meeting between Alexander the Great and is told the Cynic Diogenes. Alexander had just been elected to the supreme commander and took congratulations from all sides meet, but also reckoned with the appearance of Diogenes. When he did not want to come, Alexander decided to visit him in the company of some officers. Diogenes was lying in the sun, when Alexander and his entourage and asked if he could do something for him. The undemanding Diogenes had only answered him:

Get out a little from the sun. ( ancient Greek: Μικρὸν ἀπὸ τοῦ ἡλίου μετάστηθι - micron apo tou hēliou metastēthi. . )

Alexander replied to his people:

If I were not Alexander, I would be Diogenes. ( ancient Greek: Εἰ μὴ Ἀλέξανδρος ἤμην, Διογένης ἂν ἤμην - Egg mē Alexandros EMEN, Diogenes of emen. . )

Now, what is to keep the truth of this often told and handed down by Plutarch anecdote? On the website of the University of Göttingen states:

It is unlikely that philosopher king are each other ever met. The anecdote aptly characterizes However, the difference between the king in the full consciousness of his power and the philosopher, who had for only quiet contempt.

Its popularity owes this anecdote probably the fascination of the philosopher lives.

Hiking anecdotes

The anecdote of the loaned book that comes back with spots is attributed to several people:

The Austrian writer Hugo von Hofmannsthal had a treasure bibliophile rarities, which he gave reluctantly. Once he got back a book with many grease stains. Hofmannsthal was so upset that he was sent by a rind with the following comment:

I beg you to bookmark that you have forgotten in my book to send back.

The same anecdote is told by the Austrian writer and critic Alfred Polgar, who the borrower a Ölsardine forwarded it with the remark:

I acknowledge receipt of the book and allow me to send you back your esteemed bookmarks.

Examples from the literature

• Heinrich von Kleist: anecdote from the last Prussian wars
• Thomas Mann: anecdote
• Heinrich Böll: Anecdote on the drop in morale