Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (German Johann Wolfgang von Goethe; August 28, 1749, Frankfurt am Main - March 22, 1832, Weimar) - German poet, statesman, thinker and naturalist.

"My harsh

Style, physique;

To mother - temper is always alive

And the attraction to tales ",

He wrote in one of the later poems.

Goethe's first experiments in poetry date back to the age of eight. Not too strict homeschooling under the supervision of his father, and then three years as a student freelancer at Leipzig University left him enough time to satisfy the urge to read and try all genres and styles of the Enlightenment, so that by the age of 19, when a serious illness forced him to interrupt his studies , he had already mastered the techniques of versification and drama and was the author of a fairly significant number of works, most of which he later destroyed.

The collection of poems "Annette", dedicated to Anna Katharina Schönkopf, daughter of the owner of the Leipzig tavern, where Goethe usually dined, and the pastoral comedy "The Whims of a Lover" were specially preserved.

In Strasbourg, where in 1770-1771. Goethe completed his law degree, and for the next four years in Frankfurt he was the leader of a literary revolt against the principles established by I.H. Gottshed (1700-1766) and Enlightenment theorists.

Eleven years at the Weimar court (1775-1786), where he was a friend and adviser to the young Duke Karl August, radically changed the poet's life. Goethe, a tireless inventor and organizer of balls, masquerades, rallies, amateur performances, hunts and picnics, the trustee of parks, architectural monuments and museums, was in the very center of the court society.

He became a member of the Ducal Privy Council and later Minister of State, in charge of road construction, recruiting, public finance, public works, mining projects, etc. and spent many years studying geology, mineralogy, botany and comparative anatomy. But most of all he benefited from his long daily communication with Charlotte von Stein.

The emotionality and revolutionary iconoclasm of the Storm and Onslaught period are a thing of the past; now Goethe's ideals in life and art are restraint and self-control, poise, harmony and classical perfection of form. Instead of great geniuses, his heroes are quite ordinary people(autobiographical book "Poetry and Truth", novels "The Study Years of Wilhelm Meister", "The Years of Wilhelm Meister's Wanderings", a collection of lyric poems "West-Eastern Divan").

Goethe's work reflected the most important tendencies and contradictions of the era. In the final philosophical work - the tragedy "Faust" (1808-1832), saturated with the scientific thought of his time, he embodied the search for the meaning of life, finding it in action. J. Beethoven and C. Gounod wrote music on the themes of Goethe's works.

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chronological table the life and work of the famous German writer is pointed out in this article.

Johann Goethe chronological table

• August 28, 1749- Goethe was born in Frankfurt am Main into the family of a wealthy imperial adviser.
• 1765 – 1768 - Study at the Faculty of Law of the University of Leipzig.
• 1767 - the collection of poems "Annette" and the pastoral comedy "The Whims of a Lover" were written.
• 1768 year - due to illness, Johann Goethe is forced to drop out of school.
• 1770-1771 - Goethe is completing his legal education in Strasbourg. Studies natural sciences and medicine. An affair with the daughter of a pastor from Zasenheim, Frederic Brillon. Moving to Frankfurt, law practice.
• 1774 - the novel "The Suffering of Young Werther".
• 1775 – 1786 - Weimar. Goethe holds the post of advisor to Duke Karl August. Leads an active social life.
• 1782 - Goethe receives the status of a nobleman and the office of president of the chamber. Work on "The Years of the Study of Wilhelm Meister", "Iphigenia in Taurida", "Torquato Tasso", "Faust", "Egmont".
• 1786 - Goethe goes to Italy, finishes the dramas "Egmont" and "Torquato Tasso".
• 1789 - return to Weimar. The poet appeals to the duke with a request to release him from many official duties, leaving only the court theater. Civil marriage with Cristiana Vulpius. Birth of first son Augustus.
• 1791 - in Weimar creates his own theater, becomes its leader.
• 1804 - Goethe is a member of the Privy Council at the court of Duke Karl August.
• 1806 - Marrying Christiana Vulpius.
• 1808 - Goethe meets with Napoleon, talks with him. Napoleon presents the poet with the Order of the Legion of Honor. The first part of the tragedy "Faust" is over.
• 1814 – 1819 - Creation of a poetic cycle "West-Eastern Divan".
• 1815 - the post of the first state minister.
• June 1816 - Christiane dies, unable to withstand the second stroke.
• 1825 – 1831 - work on the second part of "Faust".
• 1830 - the death of his son Augustus.
• March 22, 1832- Johann Wolfgang Goethe dies in Weimar. Buried in the tomb of the Weimar dukes next to his friend Friedrich Schiller.

Johann Wolfgang Goethe is a German writer, playwright and poet who went down in the history of world literature. The works of this author are immortal and have a philosophical character. The creator of the famous "Faust" was a kind and mysterious person, versed in science and advocacy.

The German genius of classical literature was born on August 28, 1749 in Germany, in the prosperous commercial city of Frankfurt am Main. The childhood of the talented boy passed in a quiet and cozy house near the Oleniy Ravine, which in the future will become the Museum named after Johann Wolfgang Goethe.

The writer's parents had a distinguished position: Caspar Goethe was a lawyer and imperial adviser, and Katharina Elisabeth Goethe was the daughter of the city's supreme judge Johann Wolfgang Textor. It is worth saying that Kaspar's wife is 21 years younger than him, the girl was married to a lawyer at a young age, and initially she had no love feelings for him.

Kaspar Goethe lived in prosperity and did not refuse anything to himself or his family, thanks to the inheritance he received from Friedrich Georg, who was his father. The writer's grandfather earned a huge fortune on his own, going from a tailor to the owner of a tavern. Johann's father was an intelligent man with a strong disposition, but with a limited outlook and with a strict character.

The head of the family did not work, as the money received was enough for a lifetime. Instead of painstaking work, Kaspar traveled a lot, especially Italy and the culture of Rome. He also collected a home library, which the young future author of "Faust" diligently studied. Friedrich's bookshelves accumulated about two thousand books - a whole literary fortune.

At the age of six, little Johann begins to take an interest in the religious issue. After the earthquake in Lisbon, the boy wonders if there is a God. If he exists, then why did he take the innocent virtuous people who died during natural disaster? Johann had a sister, Cornelia, with whom his brother maintained a warm relationship. In addition to the boy and girl, Katarina gave birth to four more children, but they died in infancy.

The writer's mother is the complete opposite of her husband: Katarina was a cheerful and smiling woman who tried to look at all aspects of life from an optimistic perspective. Because of Katharina's perky nature, little Johann loved her more than his father, but the boy also developed a friendship with Frederick, despite frequent quarrels and the hot-tempered nature of Goethe the elder.

Katharina did not receive a secondary education, which was not uncommon for women in these times, but the keeper of the Goethe family's hearth also loved reading and was fond of theaters. Little Johann was very fond of fairy tales that his mother read to him for the night: Katarina herself composed them. True, the woman acted cunningly: the future writer told his grandmother about his experiences, and she, in turn, passed on the "secret" of his mother's grandson. Thus, Katarina understood what to tell her son in the next story.

The future German literary figure Johann Goethe grew up in a comfortable environment full of love and understanding. Although the boy's parents were wealthy, Goethe was not a spoiled child and from an early age became addicted to literature, got acquainted with "Metamorphoses" and "Iliad". When the boy was 4 years old, he received a luxurious gift from his grandmother - a small dollhouse. Little Goethe loved to play with a toy theater and came up with miniature scenes. Johann begins writing poetry from the age of ten. Since then, the future great writer calls himself a poet.

From 1756 to 1758, young Goethe goes to high school, and then is transferred to home schooling. Frederick did not spare money for the education of children, so only the best private teachers studied with Johann and Cornelia. Boy studied foreign languages, natural sciences and was fond of drawing. In addition, home schooling included equestrian sports, fencing, dancing, as well as playing the piano and cello.

Classes in French, Greek, English, Latin, etc. help young Goethe write a poetic novel about brothers and sisters who send letters to each other in different languages. The boy writes the first work out of boredom, as he is tired of doing his homework.

In the fall of 1765, Goethe entered Leipzig University, which is considered one of the best in Germany. Friedrich wanted his son to follow in his footsteps, so he sent the teenager to the Faculty of Law. However, Johann is reluctant to attend law classes, giving preference to philosophy, natural science and literature. Goethe loved to listen to the lectures of the German poet and philosopher Christian Gellert, and during his student years he met Johann Winckelmann, whom he considered his mentor, in drawing lessons.

While in Little Paris, Goethe lived on the rue Neumarkt, in a house called the Fireball. Young Goethe was a sociable student, surrounded by many fellow classmates, with whom the future writer arranged friendly meetings, and also visited the theater, played the piano and played cards. Johann Goethe was dressed "with a needle". But initially the student arrived in the city in the "simple attire of a provincial" and caused ridicule.

The caring Friedrich, who did not spare money for Johann's amusement and clothes, sent 100 guilders to the student every month, which was a good fortune in those days.

Despite the ingenuity and diligence in his studies, Goethe fails to graduate from the university. Due to the exacerbation of tuberculosis in the summer of 1768, the young man had to return to his hometown. Due to the fact that Johann returned to Frankfurt without a diploma, disagreements begin between father and son.

Literature

After arriving from Leipzig, Goethe is ill for a long time and stays at home. While on sick leave, the young man writes his first work - the comedy Die Mitschuldigen ("Participants")

In 1770, Goethe, hoping to get a legal education, went to the city of Strasbourg: in a new place, the future writer began to take an interest in chemistry, medicine, and philology. There he met the German writer and theologian Johann Herder, who had a positive influence on the young man.

In the new city, young Goethe forms himself as a poet and belongs to the "Storm and Onslaught" trend. This is practically the same as sentimentalism in Europe: the admirers of emotional feelings are replacing the classical figures of the mind.

In Strasbourg, Goethe falls in love with Frederica Brion, and the young poet dedicates lyric poems to her: "Steppe Rose", "May Song", etc. After a while, Goethe writes to Brion that his feelings for the girl have cooled.

In 1773, Goethe wrote a play about the Swabian knight "Getz von Berlichingen with an Iron Hand", which brought popularity to the young writer in the manifesto "Storm and Onslaught".

In 1772, at the insistence of Goethe's father, he went to Wetzlar to practice law. In an ancient city, a young man falls passionately in love with Charlotte Buff, having met her on dance evening... The poet was captivated by the beauty of a charming girl. After spending the evening surrounded by Goethe, Charlotte does not reciprocate with young Johann, which is why the writer becomes depressed.

But it is worth paying tribute to this fleeting meeting, because thanks to it, in 1774, Goethe's brilliant work "The Suffering of Young Werther" was born, where Charlotte was the prototype of Lotte. The novel in letters tells about a young man who unrequitedly fell in love and committed suicide. This plot denouement was inspired by Goethe's friend Karl Wilhelm Jeruzalem, who in 1772 shot himself in his apartment because of his feelings for a married woman.

The novel about Werther's unrequited love gained popularity and brought fame to Goethe, however, a war of suicides on the basis of unrequited love took place in Germany: young Germans took Goethe's work too close to their hearts. Therefore, in some cities, the book of Johann was even banned.

"Faust"

On the bookshelves of the Goethe family's library was a book about Johann Georg Faust. This man, who lived in the 15-16 centuries, was a mysterious person who was interested in many poets of subsequent times. And, of course, interest in the mystical warlock was not spared by Goethe, who loved to study occult science and alchemy.

Johann Goette worked on the poem "Faust" for most of his life, starting at the age of 20. This work is brilliant in structure and content, and also reflects the literary views of the poet, which have changed over the years of writing.

For the first time an excerpt from Faust was published in 1808, and a whole book, consisting of fragments, was published in 1832.

The tragedy of Goethe was translated into many languages ​​of the world and is still considered a cultural heritage. The translation into Russian was carried out by Anatoly Mamontov, Alexander Strugovshchikov and others. But the most famous Russification of the work belongs to.

An evil spirit quote from the poem is an epigraph to the novel "The Master and Margarita":

“I am part of the power that always wants evil and always does good,” said Mephistopheles, whom the Russian writer makes the prototype of Woland in his book.

Another popular mystical work by Johann Goethe is the ballad "The Forest King", written in 1782. The plot tells the story of a supernatural being who killed a child: Goethe draws an analogy with the boy's illness. Was the hero of the "Forest King" raving, or did he meet an evil king?

This ballad has become a recognizable work of Goethe, it can easily be attributed to the folk epic. Also, poetry in the future found reflection in literature and music: he writes the novel "Pale Fire", and the German band Rammstein sings the song "Dalai Lama".

Personal life

Goethe was charming and kind person who managed to master any knowledge. Due to his interest in art and literature, Goethe developed character from childhood, reading the immortal classics.

Despite his sociability, Johann Wolfgang was known as a mysterious person; some historians believe that part of the character of Heinrich Faust from the work of Goethe was inherent in the author of the poem.

Even in photographic portraits of Johann Goethe, a certain mysticism can be traced, his brown eyes seem to keep a certain secret, which he himself knew.

Goethe was popular with women, and there was not enough book to describe the love affairs of the German classic. And only Christian Vulpius fell in love with the poet for thirty years.

Christiane was not a beauty, like the first love of the writer Charlotte, but she captivated Goethe with her simplicity and sincerity. They met by chance on the street, the girl handed a letter to the future chosen one. The poor peasant woman so charmed Johann Wolfgang that he immediately invited the young girl to settle on his estate. Most of the poet's mistresses considered it an insult to the choice of the writer, who preferred the "simpleton". Goethe and Christine had five children, although the German classic has children from other women.

In his spare time, Goethe bred violets and collected minerals.

Death

In the spring of 1832, Goethe caught a cold while walking in an open carriage, and the illness dramatically worsened the health of the 82-year-old writer. On March 22, the great poet died of cardiac arrest. The last words of the author of "Faust":

"Please close the window."

Quotes

• "Humanity could achieve incredible success if it were more sober."
• "Faith is a rainbow bridge between heaven and earth, everyone is delighted, but from the wanderers, everyone sees it differently, depending on where he is."
• "Anyone who does not believe in the future life is dead for this ..."
• “God is everything if we stand high; if we stand low, he is an addition to our squalor "
• "A fool in love with stupidity is much: / And the sun, and the moon, and the stars, he will give / For fireworks - a beauty for fun!"

Bibliography

• The Suffering of Young Werther (1774);
• Iphigenia in Taurida (1787);
• Roman Elegies (1788);
• Torquato Tasso (1790);
• "Metamorphosis of Plants" (1790);
• "The Teaching Years of Wilhelm Meister" (1796);
• Faust (1808-1831);
• "Marienbad Elegy";
• "Magical flute";
• "Teaching about color";
• "Materials for the history of the doctrine of color";
• "West-Eastern Divan" (1819);

Johann Wolfgang Goethe- German poet, novelist, playwright, essayist, thinker and researcher. The main book of the writer, the tragedy "Faust", is recognized as a summit phenomenon fiction and her the main character stands on a par with the greatest "eternal images". Goethe is considered a symbol of the spiritual culture of Germany and the personification of the universal genius of world culture.

The life of I.V. Goethe in dates and facts

August 28, 1749 - was born in Frankfurt am Main, the son of a wealthy burgher who belonged to the city elite.

1765 - at the behest of his father, he entered the law faculty of the University of Leipzig, which was called at that time "Saxon Paris".

1768 - due to a sudden serious illness, he was forced to return home to Frankfurt, where he spent about a year, diligently engaged in self-education.

1770 - went to Strasbourg to continue his studies. There the young poet met the famous writer I.G. Herder, who drew his attention to German folklore.

1772 g.- in the status of a licentiate in law, he came to Wetzlar to undergo an internship at the imperial court. In this town, Goethe entered the circle of educated youth, with whom he shared creative hobbies and leisure. There he also experienced a stormy love story, the heroine of which was the bride of his friend I.Kh. Kestner, Charlotte Buff. The torment of unrequited love forced the poet to leave Wetzlar soon.

IN 1773 - wrote a play "Getz von Berlichingen", which opened new horizons for German drama. This year, for the first time, the writer turned to the theme of Faust, as a result of which several scenes of the tragedy appeared (the so-called "Pra-Faust").

IN 1775 g. after some hesitation, the poet accepted the invitation of the Duke of Saxe-Weimar Karl August and moved to Weimar as an honorary member of the principality's board, but above all as a friend, advisor and associate. Having received one of the highest posts in the principality, Goethe gradually concentrated all the threads in his hands. government controlled: finance, industry, road construction, army service, education, theater, etc. Thanks to his efforts, prominent figures of German culture moved to Weimar, which contributed to the transformation of the city into one of the largest cultural centers in Germany. Among the writers who moved to Weimar was F. Schiller, with whom Goethe established a relationship of creative friendship, which marked a separate page in the history of German literature.

1777-1785 - worked on a novel "Theatrical vocation of Wilhelm Meister"(remained unfinished).

1787- there was a drama "Iphigenia in Taurida", celebrating the entry of Goethe into the classical period of creativity.

IN 1786 g. tired of ten years of public service, the poet secretly fled to Italy, where he spent several happy years traveling around the country and studying the art of the old masters.

1789 g.- Goethe returned to Weimar. Having renounced other government posts, he retained the title of first minister and the responsibility to oversee the field of education. In addition, he was actively involved in theater, which he himself organized. The poet considered the theater to be an "educational institution" that inspires the public with worthy thoughts and improves its artistic taste.

1790 - a cycle of poems was created based on the impressions of an Italian trip "Roman Elegies" and drama Torquato Tasso. The publication of the first version of "Faust" under the title "Fragment" is dated the same year. Material from the site

1795-1796- the novel was published "The Teaching Years of Wilhelm Meister."

1798 - the epic poem was completed "Herman and Dorothea".

1811 - started writing an autobiography "Poetry and Truth".

1819 - the lyric collection was released "West-east sofa".

1829 - finished work on the novel "The Wandering Years of Wilhelm Meister".

1831 - the second part was completed " Faust».

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In the biography of Goethe, the date of birth is August 28, 1749. It was on this day that a son was born to the imperial councilor Kasper and the daughter of the city judge of Frankfurt am Main Katharina Elisabeth Goethe. Since childhood, Johann did not need anything, which he owed to his grandfather, who in his life turned from a tailor into a tavern owner.

Goethe's father traveled a lot and collected an impressive volume of the library, books from which the young Johann often read. Once he got acquainted with the contents of a book about the mysterious warlock Johann Georg Faust, which in many years will bring him worldwide fame.

At the age of 6, he became interested in religion and wondered about the existence of God. Johann attended school for two years, after which he was transferred to home schooling, where he received a comprehensive education.

University years

In 1765, Goethe enrolled at the University of Leipzig. Although his father's desire was to obtain a law degree, Goethe became more and more interested in literature and philosophy. He loved to listen to poems by Christian Gellert, and in drawing lessons he met Johann Winckelmann.

In his house, Goethe often arranged meetings, loved to go to the theater and play card games. In 1768, Goethe falls ill with tuberculosis and is forced to drop out to return home. On this basis, he starts quarrels with his father.

Life and art

While on sick leave, Goethe wrote his first literary work - the comedy "Participants". In 1770, he tries to finish his studies and goes to Strasbourg, but there he awakens an interest in chemistry, medicine and philology. There, the theologian I. Herder had a great influence on the formation of Goethe's personality.

In Strasbourg, Johann enters the course of "Storm and Onslaught," preaching the worship of emotions instead of reason. In the wake of this trend, he falls in love with Frederica Brion and writes her poems "Steppe Rose", "May Song" and others. However, the love soon faded and they parted.

In 1773, his play "Getz von Berlichingen with an Iron Hand" was published, which brought popularity to the author in the Holy Roman Empire. A year later, he consolidates his success with the work "The Suffering of Young Werther", in which a young man in love, not meeting reciprocal feelings, commits suicide.

In 1782, Goethe wrote the mystical ballad The Forest Tsar, which tells about a mysterious creature who took the life of a sick child.

At the age of 20, Goethe began work on the main work of his life - the poem "Faust". It is unique in its structure and content, and also reflects the dynamics of the development of the author's personality. The first excerpt of the book was published in 1808, and it was published in full 24 years later. He considered the main character of this work of the devil, who appeared in the world under the name of Mephistopheles, as part of a mysterious force who always wants evil, but is doomed to do good. This work has been translated into many languages ​​of the world and is considered the property of world culture.

Personal life

Studying the short biography of Goethe Johann Wolfgang, it can be noted that he was a mysterious person. Some literary scholars consider the protagonist of Faust to be the prototype of Goethe.

He was popular with women and often involved in love affairs. Only Christiane Vulpius managed to captivate him for thirty years. Goethe loved her simplicity and sincerity.

In his free time from literary creativity, the philosopher bred violets and replenished his collection of minerals.

The cause of death of the philosopher was cardiac arrest. The poet's last words were "Please close the window." In many cities, monuments have been erected in honor of the German writer and some space objects are named.

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