History Creator / JohannWolfgangVonGoethe

Although mostly known for his literary works, Goethe also [[RenaissanceMan dabbled in many fields of science]]. For example, he discovered the incisive bone, though others had discovered it independently before him. He studied botany extensively and declared "alles ist blatt" (all is leaf). He also [[DidntThinkThisThrough disagreed with Newton's theory of colour]] and [[ShownTheirWork came up with his own]], and then could never figure out why [[CreatorsPet nobody agreed that it was his greatest work]].

Although mostly known for his literary works, Goethe also [[RenaissanceMan dabbled in many fields of science]]. For example, he discovered the incisive bone, though others had discovered it independently before him. He also [[DidntThinkThisThrough disagreed with Newton's theory of colour]] and [[ShownTheirWork came up with his own]], and then could never figure out why [[CreatorsPet nobody agreed that it was his greatest work]].

'''Johann Wolfgang von Goethe''' is to German what [[Literature/TheDivineComedy Dante Alighieri]] is to Italian, Creator/WilliamShakespeare is to English, [[Literature/DonQuixote Miguel de Cervantes]] to Spanish or Creator/AlexanderPushkin to Russian: the most important author of his language. The quintessential UsefulNotes/DichterAndDenker.

->''So that was the poodle's core!''

'''Johann Wolfgang von Goethe''' is to German what [[Literature/TheDivineComedy Dante Alighieri]] is to Italian, Creator/WilliamShakespeare is to English, [[Literature/DonQuixote Miguel de Cervantes]] to Spanish or Creator/AlexanderPushkin to Russian: the most important author of his language. The quintessential DichterAndDenker.

Despite being the author of such an unintentionally controversial book, Goethe soon made his career at the court of Weimar, where he was an important minister for the grand duke, and where he met Friedrich Schiller, the ''other'' most important [[DichterAndDenker German author]]; after an uneasy first meeting they quickly became HeterosexualLifePartners. Goethe got ennobled in Weimar [[TheVonTropeFamily (hence the ''von'' in his name)]] and most of his works were created there.

* ''West-östlicher Diwan'' (''The West-Eastern Divan'') -- Collection of poems in imitation of ancient Persian muslim poetry, especially the 14th century poet Hafez.

For the benefit of English-speakers, his name is pronounced (roughly) "'''Yo'''-hawn '''Volf'''g'''uhng''' phone '''Gö'''tuh" -- not "Go-eth". Born in 1749 in Frankfurt am Main, Goethe rose to fame with the drama ''Theatre/GotzVonBerlichingen'' and the novel ''Literature/TheSorrowsOfYoungWerther''. Werther, the hero of the latter story, even was a role model for many young people of Goethe's time, many of them adopting his signature yellow waistcoat and his philosophy. This wouldn't have been so bad if it weren't for the fact that the story [[Spoiler: ends with Werther's suicide]]. The oft-repeated claim that the book caused [[spoiler:a suicide epidemic]] among young men lacks solid evidence, and is probably greatly exaggerated.

For the benefit of English-speakers, his name is pronounced (roughly) "'''Yo'''-hawn '''Volf'''g'''uhng''' phone '''Gö'''tuh" -- not "Go-eth". Born in 1749 in Frankfurt am Main, Goethe rose to fame with the drama ''Theatre/GotzVonBerlichingen'' and the novel ''Literature/TheSorrowsOfYoungWerther''. Werther, the hero of the latter story, even was a role model for many young people of Goethe's time, many of them adopting his signature yellow waistcoat and his philosophy. This wouldn't have been so bad if it weren't for the fact that the story ends with Werther's suicide. The oft-repeated claim that the book caused a suicide epidemic among young men lacks solid evidence, and is probably greatly exaggerating.

For the benefit of English-speakers, his name is pronounced (roughly) "'''Yo'''-hawn '''Volf'''g'''uhng''' phone '''Gö'''tuh" -- not "Go-eth". Born in 1749 in Frankfurt am Main, Goethe rose to fame with the drama ''Theatre/GotzVonBerlichingen'' and the novel ''Literature/TheSorrowsOfYoungWerther''. Werther, the hero of the latter story, even was a role model for many young people of Goethe's time, many of them adopting his signature yellow waistcoat and his philosophy. This wouldn't have been so bad if it weren't for the fact that [[spoiler: the story ends with Werther's suicide.]] Whether or not the [[spoiler: Mass suicides]] actually happened is very much open to debate. Evidence suggest the tales are vastly exaggerated.

For the benefit of English-speakers, his name is pronounced (roughly) "'''Yo'''-hawn '''Volf'''g'''uhng''' phone '''Gö'''tuh" -- not "Go-eth". Born in 1749 in Frankfurt am Main, Goethe rose to fame with the drama ''Theatre/GotzVonBerlichingen'' and the novel ''Literature/TheSorrowsOfYoungWerther''. Werther, the hero of the latter story, even was a role model for many young people of Goethe's time, many of them adopting his signature yellow waistcoat and his philosophy. This wouldn't have been so bad if it weren't for the fact that [[spoiler: the story ends with Werther's suicide.]]

** ''Theatre/FaustFirstPartOfTheTragedy'': The origin of the page quote and often considered THE most important work in the German language ever.

->''[[ItMakesSenseInContext So that was the poodle's core!]]''

* ''Die Wahlverwandtschaften'' (''Elective Affinities'') -- A novel. The eponymous affinities are modelled after the chemical compounds of oxygen. Expect many character names beginning with 'O'.

[[AC:Epic]][[hottip:*:And by epic, we mean "narrative prose".]]

'''Johann Wolfgang von Goethe''' is to German what [[Literature/TheDivineComedy Dante Alighieri]] is to Italian, Creator/WilliamShakespeare is to English, [[Literature/DonQuixote Miguel de Cervantes]] to Spanish or Creator/AlexanderPushkin to Russian: the most important author of his language.

* "[[Literature/TheErlKing Erlkönig]]" ("Erl-King" or "The Alder King") -- A creepy ballad about TheFairFolk.

* "[[Literature/TheErlKing Erlkönig]]" ("Erl-King" or "The Alder King") -- A [[NightmareFuel creepy]] ballad about TheFairFolk.

Despite being the author of such an unintentionally controversial book, Goethe soon made his career at the court of Weimar, where he was an important minister for the grand duke, and where he met Creator/FriedrichSchiller, the ''other'' most important [[DichterAndDenker German author]]; after an uneasy first meeting they quickly became HeterosexualLifePartners. Goethe got ennobled in Weimar [[TheVonTropeFamily (hence the ''von'' in his name)]] and most of his works were created there.

Unlike what one would expect from famous German writers at the time, Goethe was relaxed about including lots of rude and dirty jokes in his works. ''Götz von Berlichingen'', a biographical piece about a famous soldier, is known as the play in which the main character speaks the line ''"Tell him that he can lick my arse!"'' (Indeed, the subject of the play is said to have ''invented'' the insult - Goethe merely quoted him. Also note: "Lick my arse" is roughly equivalent to "kiss my ass" in English; it's the phrase [[WolfgangAmadeusMozart Mozart]] used in his [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leck_mich_im_Arsch famously and childishly rude canon in B-flat minor]], and Mozart actually jokes about Goethe in it.)

* "[[SorcerersApprenticePlot Der Zauberlehrling]]" ("The Sorcerer's Apprentice") -- Non-German speakers might know this story better with [[{{Fantasia}} Mickey Mouse as the apprentice]].

* ''{{Faust}}'' -- The origin of the page quote and often considered THE most important work in the German language ever.
* ''Faust. Der Tragödie zweiter Teil'' (''Faust, The Tragedy's Second Part'') -- depending on who you ask, a late-in-coming cash-in sequel, a send-up of afficionados and critics of the first part, or actually a worthy successor.

Unlike what one would expect from famous German writers at the time, Goethe was relaxed about including lots of rude and dirty jokes in his works. ''Götz von Berlichingen'', a biographical piece about a famous soldier, is known as the play in which the main character speaks the line ''"Tell him that he can lick my arse!"'' (Indeed, the subject of the play is said to have ''invented'' the insult - Goethe merely quoted him. Also note: "Lick my arse" is roughly equivalent to "kiss my ass" in English; it's the phrase [[WolfgangAmadeusMozart Mozart]] used in his [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leck_mich_im_Arsch famously and childishly rude canon in B-flat minor]].)

Unlike what one would expect from famous German writers at the time, Goethe was relaxed about including lots of rude and dirty jokes in his works. ''Götz von Berlichingen'', a biographical piece about a famous soldier, is known as the play in which the main character speaks the line ''"Tell him that he can lick my arse!"'' (Indeed, the subject of the play is said to have ''invented'' the insult - Goethe merely quoted him.)

* ''Venezianische Epigramme'' (''Venetian Epigrams'') -- A collection of witty epigrams inspired by Goethe's time in Venice, something of a Sequel to the ''Elegies''. They range over a variety of subjects in a mood of cheerful cynicism and are sometimes [[HotterAndSexier amazingly filthy and very funny]]; characteristically, Goethe wrote whatever came into his head but was careful not to publish the really filthy ones.

Despite being the author of such an unintentionally controversial book, Goethe soon made his career at the court of Weimar, where he was an important minister for the grand duke, and where he made friends with Creator/FriedrichSchiller, the ''other'' most important [[DichterAndDenker German author]]. Also, he got ennobled there. [[TheVonTropeFamily (Hence the ''von'' in his name.)]] Most of his works were created in Weimar. Unlike what one would expect from famous German writers at the time, Goethe did not shy away from including lots of rude and dirty jokes in his works. ''Götz von Berlichingen'', a biographical piece about a famous soldier, is known as the play in which the main character speaks the line ''"Tell him that he can lick my arse!"'' (Indeed, the subject of the play is said to have ''invented'' the insult - Goethe merely quoted him. )

Goethe also traveled to Italy. During his time, [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff Germans love]][[strike:[[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff d]]]] [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff Italy]]!

Some of Goethe's works:

Although mostly known for his literary works, Goethe also [[RenaissanceMan dabbled in many fields of science]]. For example, he discovered the incisive bone, though others had discovered it independently before him.

Despite being the author of such an unintentionally controversial book, Goethe soon made his career at the court of Weimar, where he was an important minister for the grand duke, and where he made friends with Creator/FriedrichSchiller, the ''other'' most important [[DichterAndDenker German author]]. Also, he got ennobled there. [[TheVonTropeFamily (Hence the ''von'' in his name.)]] Most of his works were created in Weimar. Unlike what one would expect from famous German writers at the time, Goethe did not shy away from including lots of rude and dirty jokes in his works. ''Götz von Berlichingen'', a biographical piece about a famous soldier, is known as the play in which the main character speaks the line ''"But he, tell him that, can kiss my arse!"'' (Indeed, the subject of the play is said to have ''invented'' the insult - Goethe merely quoted him.)

* ''Xenien'' (''The Xenia'') -- A collection of epigrams, a collaboration with Friedrich Schiller.

* ''Iphigenia in Tauris'' -- A {{remake}} of Creator/{{Euripides}}' play ''Iphigenia among the Taurians''.

'''Johann Wolfgang von Goethe''' is to German what [[TheDivineComedy Dante Alighieri]] is to Italian, WilliamShakespeare is to English, [[Literature/DonQuixote Miguel de Cervantes]] to Spanish or AlexanderPushkin to Russian: the most important author of his language.

For the benefit of English-speakers, his name is pronounced (roughly) "'''Yo'''-hawn '''Volf'''g'''uhng''' phone '''Gö'''tuh" -- not "Go-eth". Born in 1749 in Frankfurt am Main, Goethe rose to fame with the drama ''GotzVonBerlichingen'' and the novel ''Literature/TheSorrowsOfYoungWerther''. Werther, the hero of the latter story, even was a role model for many young people of Goethe's time, many of them adopting his signature yellow waistcoat and his philosophy. This wouldn't have been so bad if it weren't for the fact that [[spoiler: the story ends with Werther's suicide.]]

Despite being the author of such an unintentionally controversial book, Goethe soon made his career at the court of Weimar, where he was an important minister for the grand duke, and where he made friends with FriedrichSchiller, the ''other'' most important [[DichterAndDenker German author]]. Also, he got ennobled there. [[TheVonTropeFamily (Hence the ''von'' in his name.)]] Most of his works were created in Weimar. Unlike what one would expect from famous German writers at the time, Goethe did not shy away from including lots of rude and dirty jokes in his works. ''Götz von Berlichingen'', a biographical piece about a famous soldier, is known as the play in which the main character speaks the line ''"But he, tell him that, can kiss my arse!"'' (Indeed, the subject of the play is said to have ''invented'' the insult - Goethe merely quoted him.)

* ''Heidenröslein'' (''Rosebud on the Heath '')
* ''[[Literature/TheErlKing Erlkönig]]'' (''Erl-King'' or ''The Alder King'') -- A [[NightmareFuel creepy]] ballad about TheFairFolk.

* ''[[SorcerersApprenticePlot Der Zauberlehrling]]'' (''The Sorcerer's Apprentice'') -- Non-German speakers might know this story better with [[{{Fantasia}} Mickey Mouse as the apprentice]].

* ''GotzVonBerlichingen'' -- A historical fiction drama (a "historical drama" it's not), giving the real-life Götz a [[HistoricalHeroUpgrade historical character upgrade]].
* ''Iphigenia in Tauris'' -- A {{remake}} of {{Euripides}}' play ''Iphigenia among the Taurians''.