Pierre Corneille

@Tragedian, Family and Family ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Pierre Corneille is one of the most renowned seventeenth century dramatists known for his French tragic plays French Film & Theater Personalities Theater Personalities Gemini Celebrities One among the greatest dramatists that France produced during the seventeenth century is Pierre Corneille. He was instrumental in paving a new path for French tragedy, defying the classical theories of drama. Though he was born into a family where most people were lawyers by profession, Corneille decided to travel on a different path altogether, unlike his relatives. He had an innate interest in plays and wrote them even while he was engaged with a job at the ‘Rouen department of Forests and Rivers’. Pierre’s innovative style of writing was evident from his first play itself and when it was staged, it earned him many accolades and launched his career as a playwright. He dabbled with writing verses as well and soon his talent as a poet attracted a Cardinal who chose him among his ‘Five Poets’. However, he felt suffocated to follow the Cardinal’s rules in writing, as those did not allow him to exercise his creativity to the fullest. So he parted ways with the Cardinal and followed his instinct, which led him to become one of the most exceptional and famous playwrights who reigned over the French stage for years. This playwright also approached the creation of French tragedy in a new manner, thus creating a new trend.

Personal Details

Birthday: June 6, 1606 Died on: October 1, 1684 Nationality: French Famous: Tragedian, Film & Theater Personalities, Theater Personalities Spouses: Marie de Lampérière Siblings: Thomas Corneille Known as: Corneille, Pierre, Corneille Information Detail Birthday June 6, 1606 Died on October 1, 1684 Nationality French Famous Tragedian, Film & Theater Personalities, Theater Personalities Spouses Marie de Lampérière Siblings Thomas Corneille Known as Corneille, Pierre, Corneille Birth Place Rouen Religion Catholicism Gender Male Father Pierre Corneille Mother Marthe le Pesant de Boisguilbert Sun Sign Gemini Born in Rouen Famous as Tragedian Died at Age 78

Rouen

Pierre Corneille born at Unsplash Birth Place

In 1641, this eminent writer entered the wedlock with a woman named Marie de Lampérière, and the couple was blessed with seven children. Unsplash Personal Life

Ten years after his withdrawal from the theatre world, this prolific writer breathed his last in 1684. He was later cremated at a church named ‘Église Saint-Roch’, located in Paris. Unsplash Personal Life

He was born on 6th June, 1606, to Pierre Corneille and Marthe le Pesant de Boisguilbert in Rouen, France. Pierre’s father was a reputed lawyer of his time. Pierre also had a sibling named Thomas Corneille, who also later went on to become a playwright. Unsplash Childhood & Early Life

The lad received his education at the ‘Collège de Bourbon’, which was affiliated to the famous ‘Society of Jesus’ congregation. This institution later came to be known as ‘Lycée Pierre-Corneille’. Unsplash Childhood & Early Life

When he was eighteen years old, the teenager started pursuing law but he did not achieve significant success in the profession. He father then arranged a job for him at the ‘Rouen department of Forests and Rivers’. Unsplash Career

While working for the department, he inked his first play, titled ‘Mélite’. In 1629, Corneille pitched this piece of work to a group of actors. Unsplash Career

The actors were impressed by the content of the play and decided to work on the same. It was performed in Paris and earned Corneille the recognition of being a playwright. Unsplash Career

Since then, the playwright decided to pen plays regularly and even relocated to Paris. His creativity met with immense fame and was soon placed among the prominent playwrights belonging to the French stage. Unsplash Career

In 1634, he was commissioned to create verses for the impending visit of Cardinal Richelieu to Rouen. His verses overwhelmed the Cardinal and the playwright was included to be a part of the ‘Les Cinq Auteurs’, also known as the society of five poets. Unsplash Career

All his plays have been experimental and revolved around different themes. However, the work of his which is considered exceptional is a play titled ‘Le Cid’. In this play, he has given a new direction to French tragedies and marked the beginning of a new era of creativity. Unsplash Major Works

Information	Detail
Birthday	June 6, 1606
Died on	October 1, 1684
Nationality	French
Famous	Tragedian, Film & Theater Personalities, Theater Personalities
Spouses	Marie de Lampérière
Siblings	Thomas Corneille
Known as	Corneille, Pierre, Corneille
Birth Place	Rouen
Religion	Catholicism
Gender	Male
Father	Pierre Corneille
Mother	Marthe le Pesant de Boisguilbert
Sun Sign	Gemini
Born in	Rouen
Famous as	Tragedian
Died at Age	78

Pierre Corneille

French

Jun 6, 1606

Biography

Personal Details

Rouen