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Which three periods are considered the great eras of German literature?
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German literature
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, oil painting by Joseph Karl Stieler, 1828; in the Neue Pinakothek, Munich. Goethe is considered the greatest German literary figure of the modern era.
In the context of German literature, scholars identify three distinct periods of established greatness that define the tradition's historical development:1
- The High Middle Ages: Spanning approximately from 1160 to 1230, this era represents the first flowering of courtly literature.1
- The Age of Goethe: Occurring at the turn of the 18th to the 19th century, this period is characterized by the rise of Weimar Classicism and the profound influence of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.12
- The Turn of the 19th to the 20th Century: This final period marks the third era of recognized literary brilliance in the German-speaking world.1
Unlike the national literatures of France or England, which experienced uninterrupted development, German literature has historically been shaped by the fragmentation and discontinuity of the various German states.1