Prosimetrum

Prosimetrum (plural Prosimetra ) is the name of ( literary ) texts that are composed partly of prose, partly for metrical text ( poem forms).

Term Royal

The term is composed of the names of prose and meter, depending describe the two main classes of language: normal, everyday language ( prose ) and bound to a formal poetic principle the following language ( poetry, verse, meter ). The composition of these two terms to the word Prosimentrum symbolically reflects the two components prosimetrischer texts, who are composed of prosaic and metric parts.

Must be distinguished from between pure prose and Metra ( seal) lying text forms such as rhythmic prose and the like: Characteristic of a Prosimetrum is precisely not a mixing of formal design principles of both forms of speech, but their link in a text composed constitutively from text portions of both genera is.

So that is a prayer that is strong rhythimisiert and ( prose ) strongly approximates a metric text, a text form that stands between prose and meter, but no Prosimetrum; as is also a book that collected in the poem and each of these, a short introduction is preceded in prose, no Prosimetrum because both parties are not in a constitutive connection, but can be separated without affecting the work is destroyed.

Sub meter in terms of the definition of a Prosimetrums is not limited to the narrow sense of the metric ( quantitative system ) poetry & antique embossed case to which the term meter refers first, but depending on the language all forms of poetry, as such, in contrast to the prose (wherein the boundaries between prose and poetry bound in different languages ​​can each be as smoothly and not absolutely continuous). A German Prosimentrum may therefore contain verses in non- metric, but rhythmic- accentual form, without violating the definition.

Origin

Occasional occurrence of seal within continuous prose is probably as old as the tradition of the languages ​​themselves in some books of the Old Testament whole chapter, for example, quotes or songs (especially in the prophets ) inserted into metrical language. Even modern scientific treatises For example quotations from poems, epics, or the like ( especially in the literature that deal with such texts ). Such random penetrations of prose and meter, however, does not constitute Prosimetra

The first author who deliberately created a prosimetrische form, according to current knowledge of the ancient philosopher and writer has been Menippus, who created his own genre of literature that menippeische satire and one hand by its ironic and satirical content, the other by the conscious connection penetration of prose and meter was marked. However Menipps works are lost except for a few quotes. An idea of ​​how these works might have looked like, can still be made ​​later works of imitators gain, for example, of some of the texts of Lucian of Samosata, such as the satire The tragedy playing Zeus, the verse dialogues in the style of ancient tragedy with prose parts inseparably connected.

Even the late descendants of these philosophical- literary products belongs Boethius ' Consolation Philosophiae. A transformation of this work is done in high literary quality in 1141 by Lawrence of Durham in his Consolation de morte amici.

Examples of Prosimetra

In the Western tradition disappear after the end of ancient culture Prosimetra largely. The earliest explicit Prosimetrum is commonly the medieval French romance Aucassin et Nicolette, who, partly told partly in prose epic or folk songs stanzas same continuous action.

Prosimetra that are common today, and also provide most libretti of operas, operettas, musical comedies, oratorios, and the like as they often combine texts in prose (voice scenes, recitatives, narrator) with metrical poetic forms inseparable ( arias, choruses, chorales etc.). In this area probably has experienced the most widespread the Prosimetrum.

As Prosimetra perhaps some of altskandinavischen sagas can be classified, which in addition to narrative also Skaldenstrophen, which are often involved in crucial moments of action, so that they provide justifications, without further action of the transition can not be understood, and the like. The closer the inner connection between these verses and the prose text is, the easier it will be to speak of a Prosimetrum, not just from a superficial jewelry that can be eliminated without further ignored or even in a print.

Overall Prosimetra the exception rather have stayed in the Western literary tradition, however.