Georg Rudolf Weckherlin stands at the center of a major shift in German metrics, shown through a rigorous study of style and form.
This scholarly work traces how German poetry moved from older accentual patterns to a more varied, rhythmically controlled approach. It places Weckherlin at the heart of the transitional stage and explains why his verse matters for the birth of modern German poetry.
- Learn how German metrics evolved from alliterative roots to the Opitz-influenced system and beyond.
- See how Weckherlin’s life and courtly surroundings shaped his poetry and its reception.
- Explore hovering and secondary accents, and how these techniques affect line sound and tension.
- Understand how scholars date poems and assess meter, with practical examples from Weckherlin’s oeuvre.
Ideal for readers of German literary history, poetry lovers, and students seeking a clear, readable guide to the origins of modern German verse.