Bertolt Brecht Handout
Brecht was born into a middle class family on 14.02.1898. He died being middle class even
though he had international recognition on 14.08.1956.
Social: Rising Tensions before WWI, Working class, Watching diverse social interactions
Cultural: Shakespeare, Göthe, Chinese theater, German Expressionism
Political: Rise of Facism, Exiled by Nazis due to Marxist beliefs, Art should serve social
purpose (Marxist art), WWI and WWII resulting in strong anti-war mindset.
Compare and contrast:
Style & Genre: Macbeth - Tragic verse drama. The Threepenny Opera - Musical drama
with satirical elements.
Narrative Structure: Macbeth: Linear exploration of ambition and guilt. The Threepenny
Opera: Non-linear narrative delving into social inequality.
Characterization: Macbeth: Complex, psychologically driven characters. The Threepenny
Opera: Archetypal characters representing societal stereotypes
Theatrical Techniques: Macbeth: Relies on emotional realism. The Threepenny Opera:
Utilizes alienation effect for critical engagement.
Musical Elements: Macbeth: Music for ambiance, minimal integration. The Threepenny
Opera: Music as integral part of narrative and thematic development.
Cited Works:
30. Oktober 1947: Brecht wird in den USA verhört. 29 Oct. 2007, https://www1.wdr.de/stichtag/stichtag2616.html.
‘Bertolt Brecht’. Wikipedia, 19 Jan. 2024. Wikipedia,
https://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bertolt_Brecht&oldid=241329394 .
Bertolt Brecht | Biography, Plays, Epic Theater, Poems, & Facts | Britannica. 16 Feb. 2024,
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Bertolt-Brecht .
Bertolt Brecht | Techniques and Facts |.
https://www.dramaclasses.biz/bertolt-brecht-techniques-and-factsbertolt-brecht-techniques-and-facts . Accessed
27 Feb. 2024.
E&f. Der junge Bertolt Brecht und der Erste Weltkrieg | anti-capitalism revisited. 7 Sept. 2018,
http://emafrie.de/der-junge-bertolt-brecht-und-der-erste-weltkrieg/ .
‘Episches Theater: Merkmale, Beispiele, Definition’. StudySmarter,
https://www.studysmarter.de/schule/deutsch/textarten/episches-theater/ . Accessed 27 Feb. 2024.
‘Erwin Strittmatter: Bertolt Brecht wollte nach 17. Juni 1953 in SED’. Der Spiegel, 19 Aug. 2014. www.spiegel.de,
https://www.spiegel.de/kultur/literatur/erwin-strittmatter-bertolt-brecht-wollte-nach-17-juni-1953-in-sed-a-98687
2.html .
‘Gestus’. Wikipedia, 1 Feb. 2024. Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gestus&oldid=1201999203 .
‘Macbeth: Themes’. SparkNotes, https://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/macbeth/themes/ . Accessed 27 Feb. 2024.
Rehn, Alf. ‘Bertolt Brecht — Lessons for Innovators’. Medium, 6 Nov. 2023,
https://medium.com/@alfrehn/bertolt-brecht-lessons-for-innovators-174be604ae98 .
Techniques and Theories Epic Theater.
https://www.beckfoot.org/seecmsfile/?id=4858#:~:text=Brecht%20believed%20that%20an%20actor,they%20wer
e%20watching%20a%20play . Beckfoot School.
The Brecht ’s Influence On The World War I - 1944 Words | Bartleby.
https://www.bartleby.com/essay/The-Brecht-s-Influence-On-The-World-PK6BSBTKRY3Q . Accessed 27 Feb.
2024.
‘The Threepenny Opera’. Film at Lincoln Center, https://www.filmlinc.org/films/the-threepenny-opera/ . Accessed 27
Feb. 2024.
