50 GESSXER AXD THE CCLiflXATIOX OF THE PASTORAI. IDYL. 



Kleist. Die erste Fiscberin is an evident and weak imitation of 

 Gessner's Der erste Sebiffer, and the idyl Der Bad seems to be 

 based npon the bathing scene in Thomson's Seasons. 



Jn the introduction to his idyls Bronner justifies his selection 

 of fisheimen for the actors in his d^criptive idyUic poems by 

 citing the example of classic authore, of Sannazaro and of Kleist, 

 and claims that fishermen are fuUy as capable of idealized treat- 

 ment as are shepherds; * furthennore, the flsheridyl had the 

 advantage of not being worn threadbare. - And he was acquaint- 

 ed with the life of the fisherfolk; for years had he studied and 

 observed their ways and habits, their daUy work and pleasures. 

 He says himself: "En'nneni Sie sich nui', dass ieh, sieben Jahre 

 lang, taghch ein Fischerdori mit aller seiner Geschaftigkeit vor 

 Augen hatte; dann werden Sie es ganz begreiflieh finden. wie sich 

 meine Phantasie allmahlieh mit Fischem bevolkem konnte."^ 



In spite of this fact, that Bronner's idyls are based on personal 

 observation and actual acquaintance, and ought therefore to 

 contain real human characters, we feel at once that it is not the 

 fresh and invigorating sea-air which pervades them, but the per- 

 fumed atmosphere of conventionality and idealization. And even 

 Bronner himself appreciated that his characters are not men of 

 flesh and blood. On the conti'ary, his very definition of fisher- 

 idyl indicates his purpose to describe an idealized and innocent 

 world.- The fishennan's garb was but a mask for ideal charac- 

 ters, in some of whom he even expected his fi-iends to recognize 

 themselves. ^ The very names he gives his fishermen show their un- 



1 Introduc. to Vol. IL, p. 9 of Broimer"s ^porks. 



2 Introdne. to VoL n., 9, 



3 Introdtic. to YoL L, 10. 



* Bronner defines the fister-idTl as ""'einzelne den sanften Gefuhlen Schmei- 

 chelnde Bflder. Handlnngen nnd kleine Scenen aus dem Pischerleben."' Later he 

 adds: "Thre Charaktere dfirfen nnd sollen Teredelt sein, wie man sie Tielleieht 

 nirgend antrilft, aber wie man sie doch anzntreffen hoHen kann." See Introd. to 

 YoL EL, pp. 6, 8. 



^o-'Ueine Bekannten werden sieh. bey der Dnrchlesung derselben, w^ohl selbst 

 erkennen." See Introd. YoL L. 12. 



