Sinnekins are stock characters often found in medieval drama, especially morality plays. They most often occur as pairs of devilish characters who exert their perfidious influence on the main character of the drama.[1]
The word sinnekin comes from the Dutch word sinneken which, by 1604, connoted the words "senses" or "meanings". The word's alternative meaning, drawn from sixteenth-century Dutch rederijker drama, was "a symbolic or allegorical person in a spel van sinne,"[2] an allegorically fashioned dramatic exposition of an argument on an ethical, ideological, political, or religious issue.
Like the fool with his bauble, the sinneken functioned as had the Devil in earlier medieval drama; by their costumes, actions, and words these characters usually supplied examples of foolish behavior.[3] Sinnekins, then, are allegorical characters who, in some way, instruct the audience on folly through their temptation of the main character. Indeed, sinnekens often argued for rational behavior (i.e. the repentance and salvation of the audience) while acting in just the opposite manner (i.e. foolishly).
^On the function and role of the sinneken, see the summary in J. J. Mak, De rederijkers (Patria vaderlandsche cultuurgeschiedenis in monografieen, xxxiv), Amsterdam, 1944, 58-78; and esp. W. M. H. Hummelen, De sinnekens in het rederijkersdrama, Groningen, 1958.
April 15, 2024
sinnekins, stock, characters, often, found, medieval, drama, especially, morality, plays, they, most, often, occur, pairs, devilish, characters, exert, their, perfidious, influence, main, character, drama, word, sinnekin, comes, from, dutch, word, sinneken, wh. Sinnekins are stock characters often found in medieval drama especially morality plays They most often occur as pairs of devilish characters who exert their perfidious influence on the main character of the drama 1 The word sinnekin comes from the Dutch word sinneken which by 1604 connoted the words senses or meanings The word s alternative meaning drawn from sixteenth century Dutch rederijker drama was a symbolic or allegorical person in a spel van sinne 2 an allegorically fashioned dramatic exposition of an argument on an ethical ideological political or religious issue Like the fool with his bauble the sinneken functioned as had the Devil in earlier medieval drama by their costumes actions and words these characters usually supplied examples of foolish behavior 3 Sinnekins then are allegorical characters who in some way instruct the audience on folly through their temptation of the main character Indeed sinnekens often argued for rational behavior i e the repentance and salvation of the audience while acting in just the opposite manner i e foolishly See also editMedieval theatre Morality play The Castle of Perseverance c 1400 1500 Mankind c 1470 Elckerlijc c 1470 Everyman c 1450 1500 The World and the Child also known as Mundas et Infans c 1508 Interlude of Youth c 1550s Horestes 1567 The ViceReferences edit W M H Hummelman 1958 De sinnekens in het rederijkersdrama Groningen Middelnederlandsch Handwordenboek vII 1158 On the function and role of the sinneken see the summary in J J Mak De rederijkers Patria vaderlandsche cultuurgeschiedenis in monografieen xxxiv Amsterdam 1944 58 78 and esp W M H Hummelen De sinnekens in het rederijkersdrama Groningen 1958 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sinnekins amp oldid 1116517962, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
