The Tin Drum (Cyclopedia of Literary Characters)
At a glance:
- Author: Gunter Grass
- First Published: 1959
- Type of Work: Novel
- Type of Plot: Social satire
- Time of Work: 1899-1954
- Setting: Poland and Germany
- Genres: Long fiction, Satire, Surrealist literature
- Subjects: Twentieth century, Surrealism, Nineteenth century, Mental illness, Death or dying, Drums or drummers, Germany or German people, Poland or Polish people, Dwarfs
- Locales: Germany, Poland
Characters Discussed
Oscar Matzerath (mat-tseh- RAHT), a deranged dwarf storyteller who willed himself to stop growing at the age of three to protect himself from the insane society of Nazi Germany. Oscar has magical powers imparted to him by a succession of tin drums. He encounters representatives of virtually all segments of German society and beats his drum as these people accommodate themselves to the Nazi regime to a greater or lesser degree.
Agnes Matzerath, Oscar’s mother, who carries on a love affair with her cousin throughout the first part of the novel. Agnes...
[The entire page is 902 words long]
Join eNotes
Over 3,500 study guides, question and answer forums, literature criticism, reference content, and much more!
Navigate
See Also
