Studentes


Studentes is a theatrical comic interlude in five acts, written 1545 by Christoph Stummel, a 19-year-old student at Alma Mater Viadrina. The full title of the comedy was Studentes, comœdia de vita studiosorum . The play was printed in 1549 by Johann Eichorn, a printer and publisher in Frankfurt. With his humanistic comedy, Christoph Stummel created the first student comedy and, along the way, founded a genre that today is mainly served in cinemas.

Morality play

The play is about the temptations of student life. Three fathers send their sons to the nearby university. While Philomates eagerly attends lectures and learns, the two others go to the pub and gamble away their money. Then Acrates is injured in a brawl, while Acolastus impregnates the innkeeper's daughter and has to marry her.

Dramatis personae

All names originate from Ancient Greek and indicate the character of the person.
  • Philargyrus, father.
  • Eubulus, father.
  • Philostorgus, father.
  • Philomathes, son of Philargirus.
  • Acolastus, son of Eubulus.
  • Acrates, son of Philostorgus.
  • Colax, student.
  • Myspolus, student.
  • Philostasius, student.
  • Musopolus, student.
  • Euprositus, father.
  • Eleutheria, mother.
  • Deleastisa, both daughter.
  • Paedeutes, university professor.
  • Phrontistes, his servant.
  • Danista, innkeeper.
  • nameless journeymen craftsmen.

    Editions

  • STVDENTES, COMOEDIA DE VITA STVDIOSORVM, nunc primum in lucem edita autore M. Christophoro Stummelio, F. Eiusdem carmen de iudicio Paridis. Addita est Praefatio Jodoci Willichii et Epilogus a M. Christophoro Cornero. Francoforti ad Viadrum in officina Joannis Eichorn anno MDXLIX.
  • STVDENTES, COMOEDIA DE VITA STVDIOSORVM. Excvdebat Iohannes Eichorn Francofordii ad Viadrum, Anno MDL.
  • STVDENTES, COMOEDIA DE VITA STVDIOSORVM. Excudebat Ioannes Verwithaghen, Antwerpen 1551.
  • STVDENTES, COMOEDIA DE VITA STVDIOSORVM. Coloniæ. In ædibus Petri Horst. Anno 1552.
  • STVDENTES, comoedia de vita studiosorum, excudebat Io. Eichorn, Frankfurt/Oder 1554.
  • STVDENTES, COMOEDIA DE VITA STVDIOSORVM. Excudebat Petrus Horst, Coloniae 1561.
  • STVDENTES. Comoedia de vita studiosorum. Nunc primum in lucem ædita, authore M. Christophoro Stummelio, F. Eiusdem carmen de iudicio Paridis. Addita est Præfatio Iodoci VVilichÿ et epilogus à M. Christophoro Cornero. Coloniae, Apud Petrum Horst, 1579.
  • ''Comoedia duae: I. ISAAC. De immolatione Isaac. II. STVDENTES. De vita & moribus Studiosorum. Stetini in Officina Andreae Kellneri, Anno 1579.''

    Reception

An unknown Dutch author published his own interpretation under the pseudonym "Ignoto Peerdeklontius". Lachmann called it a plagiarism, since it largely corresponds to the original and also bears the almost identical title: Studentes sive Comoedia de vita Studiosorum autore Ignoto Peerdeklontio. Alentopholi.. The fictitious place of printing Alentopholis probably goes back to a printing error and would then stand for Alethopolis. Acrates is here called Isgeestus and the final scene has also been considerably changed.
  • Studentes sive Comoedia de vita Studiosorum Autore Ignoto Peerdeklontio. Alentopholi. In Aedibus Iberiorici Nobilimi 1647.
  • ''Studentes sive Comoedia de vita Studiosorum Autore Ignoto Peerdeklontio. Alentopholi. In Aedibus Iberiorici Nobilimi 1662.''