Johnson's and Lessing's dramatic critical theories and practice with a consideration of Lessing's affinities with Johnson

Lessing displays a remarkable familiarity with the English literary scene and shows himself especially aware of Samuel Johnson's literary output and his dramatic critical achievement in neo-classical England. The study traces and examines affinities of Lessing's ideas with those of Johnson and a certain impact of Johnson on Lessing's ideas in the field of dramatic critical theory and practice. The investigation centres on Johnson's Rambler , his Dictionary , and his edition of The Plays of William Shakespeare and on Lessing's Laokoon and the Hamburgische Dramaturgie . Plays studied are Irene, Miss Sara Sampson, Emilia Galotti and Minna von Barnhelm .