Toller

play by Dorst

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July 16, 2026

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The play Toller was written by German author Tankred Dorst and is based on the life of Ernst Toller, a prominent Marxist and pacifist in 1920s Germany. Ernst Toller was a dramatist, poet, and political activist whose Expressionist plays were known for their social protest.12

Toller examines the relationship between literature and politics. Ernst Toller's own work, such as his play Man and the Masses, brought him widespread fame and embodied his spirit of social protest. The play Toller by Dorst is considered a significant work in exploring these themes.12

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Tankred Dorst
…occurred with his 1968 play Toller, a drama based on the life of the writer Ernst Toller that examines the relationship between literature and politics. In the 1970s Dorst began to collaborate with Ursula Ehler, his wife, on a series of plays and novels. Most important is the Merz cycle,…
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…occurred with his 1968 play Toller, a drama based on the life of the writer Ernst Toller that examines the relationship between literature and politics. In the 1970s Dorst began to collaborate with Ursula Ehler, his wife, on a series of plays and novels. Most important is the Merz cycle,…
Read More