Pierre Corneille was a French playwright and poet who lived from 1606 to 1684. He is known for his contributions to French classical drama and is considered one of the three great seventeenth-century French dramatists, along with Molière and Racine. Corneille's works often explored themes of honor, duty, and love, and he is best known for his tragedies, such as "Le Cid" and "Polyeucte." His plays are characterized by their eloquent language, complex characters, and exploration of moral dilemmas. Corneille's influence on French literature and drama has been significant, and his works continue to be studied and performed today.