The dramas and radio plays of Martin Walser range in nature from the epic Eiche und Angora to the conversational Zimmerschlacht…. Though they differ in the degree of political commitment and social criticism they embody and display striking diversity in subject, format and mood, they frequently share a common feature: the use of symbols as a structural element. In each case, the symbols are thoroughly integrated into the thematic framework of the drama and provide a supporting structure for its presentation.

Key images are frequently indicated by the title, as Walser's drama Eiche und Angora illustrates. In this drama, the words 'Eiche' and 'Angora' refer to concrete elements in the work with specific and important roles and reflect two of the themes fundamental to the drama's conceptual design….

In his choice of the oak ['Eiche'], Walser employs accepted connotations to facilitate the understanding of thematic content and to...