SOURCE: Bekker, Hugo. “On Imagery, Part I,” and “On Imagery, Part II.” In Andreas Gryphius: Poet between Epochs, pp. 48-64. Berne and Frankfurt: Herbert Lang and Co., 1973.

In the following essays, Bekker discusses the use of religious symbols in Gryphius's poetry in terms of the dogma and religious tradition of his time.

On Imagery, Part I

Literary criticism at times proceeds from the view that poetry exists in its own, self-sufficient, verbal universe. But an exception to this view seems to be necessary for religious poetry. Such poetry partakes of a measure of concise dogmatic beliefs and is informed by them. Part of the substance of religious poetry is extra-poetic and comes to the poet with claims of an extra-aesthetic nature. Religious symbolism is imbued with dogmatic relevance. When such symbolism finds its way into religious poetry, as it is bound to, such poetry disclaims the view that...