He was educated at the Jesuit College in Madrid and at
began to write plays.html">plays.html">plays at the age of thirteen. His literary activity was
the Low countries.html">Countries, and again for a year or more in Catalonia. In 1637
the priesthood, rising to the dignity of Superior of the Brotherhood
IV, who rewarded his services with pensions, and had his plays
drama was at its height. Lope de Vega, the most prolific and, with
his applause gave encouragement to the beginner whose fame was to
was maintained in its essential characteristics by Calderon, and he
has left a hundred and twenty; of "Autos Sacramentales," the peculiar
seventy-three; besides a considerable number of farces.
The dominant motives in Calderon's dramas are characteristically
heightened almost to the point of the fantastic. Though his plays are
characters remain essentially Spanish; and this intensely local
countries. In the construction and conduct of his plots he showed
did not restrain the fiery emotion and opulent imagination which mark
regard as his greatest distinction.
Of all Calderon's works, "Life is a Dream" may be regarded as the most
from the philosophers and religious thinkers of many ages--that the
be found in the invisible and eternal. The story which forms its basis
Josaphat" was familiar in all the literatures of the Middle Ages.
"Arabian Nights," the main situations in which are turned to farcical
But with Calderon the theme is lifted altogether out of the.
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