SOURCE: French, Walter. “Nurnberger Types as Revealed by Sachs.” In Mediaeval Civilization as Illustrated by the Fastnachtspiele of Hans Sachs, pp. 15-32. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins Press, 1925.

In the following essay, French examines Sachs's characterization of each class in contemporary society.

In the Fastnachtspiele of Sachs we find represented all the classes of society, from the noble to the vagabond, that may be considered representative of the Nürnberg of the early sixteenth century. While their customs, thoughts, and ideals are revealed in detail, we are given more than a mere photographic sketch of the times; the author is never forgetful of truth, and those traits are emphasized that have ever been characteristic of the types described. The point of view of Sachs is, therefore, not a simple one. He assumes the part of the casual bystander who is making articulate the observations of the common man; but...