The Broken Pitcher

work by Kleist

Also known as: “Der zerbrochene Krug”

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July 16, 2026

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The Broken Pitcher (Der zerbrochene Krug) is a one-act comedy by Heinrich von Kleist, first produced in 1808. The play is celebrated for its skillful dialogue, rustic characters, and subtle realism, exploring themes of human fallibility and the flaws within the justice system.1

Kleist, a prominent German dramatist of the 19th century, often delved into the complexities of human perception and the difficulty of discerning truth. His works, including The Broken Pitcher, frequently highlight the unreliability of human judgment and the inherent imperfections in societal structures. The play's humor and vivid portrayal of everyday life make it a masterpiece of German dramatic comedy.12

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Heinrich von Kleist
…verse, Der zerbrochene Krug (The Broken Pitcher), was unsuccessfully produced by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe in Weimar. The play employs vividly portrayed rustic characters, skillful dialogue, earthy humour, and subtle realism in its depiction of the fallibility of human feeling and the flaws inherent in human justice. It ranks…
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…verse, Der zerbrochene Krug (The Broken Pitcher), was unsuccessfully produced by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe in Weimar. The play employs vividly portrayed rustic characters, skillful dialogue, earthy humour, and subtle realism in its depiction of the fallibility of human feeling and the flaws inherent in human justice. It ranks…
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Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Napoleonic period (1805–16) of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
…comedy Der zerbrochene Krug (The Broken Pitcher) he produced in 1808. He drew a large number of strange and threatening landscapes, began a sequel—Wilhelm Meisters Wanderjahre (“Wilhelm Meister’s Years of Wandering”; Eng. trans. Wilhelm Meister’s Travels), with the telling subtitle oder, die Entsagenden (“or, The Renunciants”)—to his earlier Wilhelm…
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…comedy Der zerbrochene Krug (The Broken Pitcher) he produced in 1808. He drew a large number of strange and threatening landscapes, began a sequel—Wilhelm Meisters Wanderjahre (“Wilhelm Meister’s Years of Wandering”; Eng. trans. Wilhelm Meister’s Travels), with the telling subtitle oder, die Entsagenden (“or, The Renunciants”)—to his earlier Wilhelm…
Read More