SOURCE: "The Motif of Play in Gottfried Keller's Noveilen," in German Quarterly, Vol. 34, No. 1, January, 1961, pp. 50-7.

In the following excerpt, Hahn determines the importance of humor and playfulness in Keller's work, concluding that it is integral to the objective and honest nature of his short fiction.

Keller's tales are so fascinating and captivating partly because of the ease with which they seem to have been written. This ease manifests itself not only in the overall composition of Keller's stories and in the way he depicts his characters, but above all in certain episodes and events which are basically playful and humorous. Keller has often been praised for his humor and witty irony, and his well-known diminutives are an external expression of this fundamental characteristic. It is worthwhile to take a closer look at the playful situations in Keller's writings in order to develop a deeper understanding of...