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Grillparzer, Franz

(Encyclopedia)Grillparzer, Franz fränts grĭlˈpärtsər [key], 1791–1872, Austrian dramatist. His work combines German classicism and exuberant lyricism. Considered Austria's greatest playwright, he wrote Der T...

Moore, Edward

(Encyclopedia)Moore, Edward, 1712–57, English dramatist. He wrote two comedies in the sentimental tradition, The Foundling (1748) and Gil Blas (1751), but his reputation as a dramatist rests primarily on his pros...

Draper, Ruth

(Encyclopedia)Draper, Ruth, 1884–1956, American monologist, b. New York City. The author of 36 monologues, ranging from farce to tragedy, she played the various characters within each sketch with only a change of...

Beyazid

(Encyclopedia)Beyazid, 1612–1638?, Ottoman prince; brother of Sultan Murad IV. Considering Beyazid a dangerous rival, Murad ordered his execution. Beyazid's death is treated in Jean Racine's tragedy, Bajazet (167...

Fenton, Elijah

(Encyclopedia)Fenton, Elijah, 1683–1730, English poet. A graduate of Cambridge, he was a schoolmaster for a time and later was a tutor in several noble families. He is chiefly remembered for his share in Pope's t...

Oldfield, Anne

(Encyclopedia)Oldfield, Anne, 1683–1730, English actress. The successor of Mrs. Bracegirdle, she first won acclaim in 1704 for her brilliant portrayal of Lady Modish in Colley Cibber's Careless Husband. She had a...

Ate

(Encyclopedia)Ate āˈtē [key], in Greek mythology, personification of the rash temper that leads men to folly and misfortune. She was the daughter of Zeus, who, angered by her mischief, cast her from Olympus. In ...

Katona, József

(Encyclopedia)Katona, József yōˈzhĕf kŏˈtônŏ [key], 1791–1830, Hungarian dramatist. His classic tragedy Bánk Bán (1821) was among the first important works in Magyar. It was set to music by Francis Erke...

Epicharmus

(Encyclopedia)Epicharmus ĕpĭkärˈməs [key], c.550–c.460 b.c., Sicilian Greek comic dramatist. He was the first to write a coherent artistic comedy, and he dealt with forms other than personal satire such as m...

Barnes, Barnabe

(Encyclopedia)Barnes, Barnabe, 1569?–1609, English poet. His major work is Parthenophil and Parthenophe (1593), a collection of sonnets, madrigals, elegies, and odes. He also wrote A Divine Century of Spiritual S...