<p>Polichinell argues with Pierrot and beats him to death with a stick. Then he kills an infant whose screams were bothering him, along with the nanny – Gänsehals. Polichinell shows more affection for his kitten, but the cat almost chokes because Polichinell feeds him without restraint. The apothecary, who heard the cries, arrives; Polichinell kills him too, because he suggested that his hump could be a deformity that should be operated on. The superintendent Spürnase arrives as well to determine what is happening in the house, and ends up being killed too, just like the two police officers that came to arrest Polichinell. As for the executioner Knüpfauf, he is hung to his own gallows by Polichinell. Finally, the Devil appears. Polichinell fends for himself, and when his opponent thinks him dead, he gets back on his feet abruptly…and kills him with a single stroke.</p>

Glove-puppet

Young audiences

Germany

Leipzig

Printed

Pickle

Nose

Hump

Funny face

Nurse

Insults

Noise

Serial murder

Gallows

Scatology

Legion of Honour

Farcical

<p>The first of ten engravings on copper</p>

German

Kleinkinderbuch

Polichinelle

Pierrot

Baby

Apothecary

Police Superintendant

Constable

Executioner

Devil

Prologue

Address to the public

Song

Blow-with-a-stick

Murder on stage

Hanging scene

Comic equivocation

Der siegreiche Held Polichinell

Polichinell the Victorious Hero