Johann Wolfgang von Johann Wolfgang von GoetheGoethe

By: Julie M. By: Julie M. FelciFelci

Goethe’s FamilyGoethe’s Family-He was born on August 28, 1749 in Frankfurt.-He was born on August 28, 1749 in Frankfurt.-His father was Johann Caspar Goethe, a lawyer. -His father was Johann Caspar Goethe, a lawyer. -His mother was Katherine Elisabeth Textor, who -His mother was Katherine Elisabeth Textor, who

was the daughter of the mayor of Frankfurt.was the daughter of the mayor of Frankfurt.-His sister was Cornelia Goethe. -His sister was Cornelia Goethe.

Johann Caspar Goethe

Cornelia Goethe

Goethe’s Goethe’s EducationEducation

Goethe’s father took great responsibility in his Goethe’s father took great responsibility in his son’s early education. son’s early education.

At the age of 16, his father sent him to study law At the age of 16, his father sent him to study law at the University of Leipzig. at the University of Leipzig.

At the end of his second semester, he lost all At the end of his second semester, he lost all interest in law and decided to study art. interest in law and decided to study art.

University of Leipzig

Goethe’s Law CareerGoethe’s Law Career In 1768, Goethe became ill and moved back to In 1768, Goethe became ill and moved back to

Frankfurt. Then after recovering, he decided to Frankfurt. Then after recovering, he decided to go to Strasbourg to finish his law degree. go to Strasbourg to finish his law degree.

In 1771, he received his law diploma and spent In 1771, he received his law diploma and spent four years practicing law with his father. four years practicing law with his father.

Die Leiden des jungen Die Leiden des jungen WerthersWerthers

In 1772, he met Charlotte (Lotte) Buff in Wetzler and In 1772, he met Charlotte (Lotte) Buff in Wetzler and feel in love with her but later discovered that she was feel in love with her but later discovered that she was engaged to his friend, Johann Georg Christian engaged to his friend, Johann Georg Christian Kestner. This inspired him to write Kestner. This inspired him to write Die Leiden des Die Leiden des jungen Werthersjungen Werthers (The Sorrows of Werther). This story (The Sorrows of Werther). This story is about a man named Werther, who is in love with a is about a man named Werther, who is in love with a girl named Lotte but later discovers that Lotte is girl named Lotte but later discovers that Lotte is engaged to a young official. Werther is heart-broken engaged to a young official. Werther is heart-broken over the misleading friendship and hopes he had in over the misleading friendship and hopes he had in being with her that he loses his mind and ends up being with her that he loses his mind and ends up shooting himself. shooting himself.

Goethe decides to take two trips to Goethe decides to take two trips to help his literary career.help his literary career.

• In 1777, he went to the Harz Mountains.

• In 1779, he went to Switzerland.

Goethe’s ReturnGoethe’s Return When he returned to Weimar, he fell in love with Charlotte When he returned to Weimar, he fell in love with Charlotte

von Stein, this relationship lasted twelve years and changed von Stein, this relationship lasted twelve years and changed him from a rebel to a refined man. him from a rebel to a refined man.

In 1782, the duke announced Goethe as a patent of nobility, In 1782, the duke announced Goethe as a patent of nobility, which meant he could add “von” to his name. which meant he could add “von” to his name.

Goethe became deeply interested in science, he had works Goethe became deeply interested in science, he had works in geology, botany, anatomy, which led not only to literary in geology, botany, anatomy, which led not only to literary results but to discoveries and scientific theories published…results but to discoveries and scientific theories published…Along with this came confusion. Goethe decided to leave Along with this came confusion. Goethe decided to leave Weimar and fled to Italy to get to know himself better. Weimar and fled to Italy to get to know himself better.

Italienische Reise Italienische Reise Goethe kept a diary of his Italian journey called Italienische Reise Goethe kept a diary of his Italian journey called Italienische Reise

in 1817. in 1817. ““His main concern was to look at objects as much as possible for His main concern was to look at objects as much as possible for

themselves – at the rocks and the plants; the customs, themselves – at the rocks and the plants; the customs, theatricals, and festivals of the people (but never their feelings or theatricals, and festivals of the people (but never their feelings or political concerns); architecture, sculpture, and, to a lesser extent, political concerns); architecture, sculpture, and, to a lesser extent, painting.” painting.”

When Goethe returned from Italy, he had a When Goethe returned from Italy, he had a relationship with Christiane Vulpius. Goethe had relationship with Christiane Vulpius. Goethe had many children with Christiane and only one many children with Christiane and only one survived, Julius August Walther (born in 1789) survived, Julius August Walther (born in 1789) and Goethe married Christiane in 1806 to and Goethe married Christiane in 1806 to legitimize the child. legitimize the child.

Christiane & Goethe

In 1790, he published an anti-Newtonian essay In 1790, he published an anti-Newtonian essay about color theory and scientific methods.about color theory and scientific methods.

In 1792, the Duke insisted that Goethe In 1792, the Duke insisted that Goethe

accompany him to France and in 1793 to the accompany him to France and in 1793 to the Rhine River. Rhine River.

He kept a journal of these events called He kept a journal of these events called Campagne in Frankreich 1792 Campagne in Frankreich 1792 (The Campaign in (The Campaign in France in the year 1792) along with France in the year 1792) along with Belagerung Belagerung von Mainzvon Mainz (Siege of Mainz). (Siege of Mainz).

In 1974, Goethe attended the University In 1974, Goethe attended the University of Jena, there he met Schiller, who was of Jena, there he met Schiller, who was

a history professor.a history professor.Together they published Together they published Die Die HorenHoren (1795-1797) (1795-1797) Goethe went solo on making his Goethe went solo on making his

own journal called own journal called Die Die PropoylaenPropoylaen (1798-1800). (1798-1800).

Goethe and Schiller

In 1805, Goethe’s friend In 1805, Goethe’s friend Schiller dies and this Schiller dies and this becomes a turning point becomes a turning point in Goethe’s life. in Goethe’s life.

He completes his color He completes his color theories in 1810 called theories in 1810 called Zur FarbenlehreZur Farbenlehre (Goethe’s Theory of (Goethe’s Theory of Colors in 1840). Colors in 1840).

“That I am the only person in this century who has the right insight into the difficult science of colors, that is what I am rather proud of, and that is what gives me the feeling that I have outstripped many” (Goethe).

In 1811, he wrote a biography on Jakob Philipp Hackert (an artist he met in Italy).

He kept himself interested in the works of Caspar David Friedrich and Philipp Otto Runge.

Caspar David Friedrich

Philipp Otto Runge

Goethe’s Life from 1816-1824

In 1816, he edited a journal called Ueber Kunst und Altersthum (On Art and Antiquity).

In 1816, Goethe’s wife, Christiane dies.

In 1817, his son August married Ottilie von Pogwisch.

In 1817, he retired as director of the court theater after supervising Weimar’s theatrical life for forty years.

From 1817-1824, he published works on morphology, scientific topics, optics, and began studying meteorology.

Goethe spent his last years as a symbol to himself by Goethe spent his last years as a symbol to himself by sitting for portraits, and receiving visits from young sitting for portraits, and receiving visits from young intellectuals that he was once from near and far. intellectuals that he was once from near and far.

Goethe died of a heart attack on March 22, 1832 in Goethe died of a heart attack on March 22, 1832 in Weimar, he was 82 years old. Weimar, he was 82 years old.

Gefunden (Found)Gefunden (Found)Ich ging im WaldeIch ging im WaldeSo fur mich hin,So fur mich hin,Und nichts zu suchen,Und nichts zu suchen,Das war mein Sinn.Das war mein Sinn.

Im Schatten sah ichIm Schatten sah ichEin Blumchen stehn,Ein Blumchen stehn,Wie Sterne leuchtend Wie Sterne leuchtend Wie Auglein schon.Wie Auglein schon.

Ich wollt es brechen, Ich wollt es brechen, Da sagt’ es fein: Da sagt’ es fein: Soll ich zum Welken,Soll ich zum Welken,Gebrochen sein?Gebrochen sein?

Ich grubs mit allen Ich grubs mit allen Don Wurzeln aus, Don Wurzeln aus, Zum Garten trug ichs Zum Garten trug ichs Am hubschen HausAm hubschen Haus

Und pflanzt es wiederUnd pflanzt es wiederAm stillen Ort;Am stillen Ort;Nun zweigt es immerNun zweigt es immerUnd bluht so fort. Und bluht so fort.

I was walking in the woodsI was walking in the woodsJust on a whim of mine, Just on a whim of mine, And seeking nothing, And seeking nothing, That was my intention. That was my intention.

In the shade I saw In the shade I saw A little flower standing A little flower standing Like stars glittering Like stars glittering Like beautiful little eyes.Like beautiful little eyes.

I wanted to pick it I wanted to pick it When it said delicately:When it said delicately:Should I just to wiltShould I just to wiltBe picked? Be picked?

I dug it out with allI dug it out with allIts little roots.Its little roots.To the garden I carried itTo the garden I carried itBy the lovely house. By the lovely house.

And replanted itAnd replanted itIn this quiet spot; In this quiet spot; Now it keeps branching outNow it keeps branching outAnd blossoms ever forth And blossoms ever forth

MailiedZwischen Weizen und Korn,Zwischen Hecken und Dorn, Zwischen Baumen und Gras, Wo gehts Liebchen?Sag mir das!

Fand mein HoldchenNicht daheim; Muss das GoldchenDraussen sein.Grunt und bluhetSchon der MaiLiebchen ziehetFroh und frei.

An dem Felsen beim Fluss, Wo sie reichte den Kuss, Jenen ersten im Gras, Seh ich etwas!Ist sie das?

The EndThe End

Work CitedWork CitedInternet Sources Internet Sources http://www.worldroots.com/brigitte/goethe1.htmhttp://www.worldroots.com/brigitte/goethe1.htm http://www.bestofsicily.com/mag/art149.htmhttp://www.bestofsicily.com/mag/art149.htm http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Johann_Wolfgang_vhttp://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Johann_Wolfgang_von_Goetheon_Goethe http://www.iuj.ac.jp/media/stokes/goethe.htmhttp://www.iuj.ac.jp/media/stokes/goethe.htm http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Wolfgang_von_Goehttp://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Wolfgang_von_Goethethe http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/j/johann_wolfghttp://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/j/johann_wolfgang_von_goeth.htmlang_von_goeth.htmlBook sourcesBook sources Johann Wolfgang Goethe by Liselotte Dieckmann Johann Wolfgang Goethe by Liselotte Dieckmann

Washington University Twayne Publishers, Inc. Washington University Twayne Publishers, Inc. New York 1974New York 1974