How did Johann Gottfried von Herder's ideas shape the Sturm und Drang movement?

Johann Gottfried von Herder was a central figure in the Sturm und Drang movement, serving as a mentor to the young Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and providing the intellectual framework that defined the movement's goals.12

Herder’s influence shaped the movement in several key ways:

• Cultural Identity and Historicism: Herder introduced the concept of the Volksseele (ethnic soul), arguing that each culture possesses a distinct identity rooted in its history and language. He encouraged German writers to reject foreign conventions and embrace their own national heritage.3
• Promotion of Folk Literature: By legitimizing the study of folk literature and oral traditions (Volksdichtung), Herder provided a model for expressive, "naive" poetry that contrasted with the rigid rationalism of the Enlightenment.3
• Manifesto Collaboration: Herder collaborated on the influential 1773 pamphlet Von deutscher Art und Kunst ("Concerning German Character and Art"), which acted as a manifesto for the movement, emphasizing Shakespeare, Gothic architecture, and German folk songs.23
• Individualism and Feeling: Herder’s focus on the "voice of feeling" and the importance of individual expression helped shift the literary focus toward the subjective experience, a hallmark of the Sturm und Drang spirit.43