Britannica
Sources used in this answer
- Johann Gottfried von Herder - First years at Weimar of Johann Gottfried von Herder
- Sturm und Drang
- Johann Gottfried von Herder
- German literature - Late Enlightenment ( Sturm und Drang )
- German literature - Goethe and the Romantics
- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe - Early years (1749–69)
- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe - First Weimar period (1776–86) of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
How did Johann Wolfgang von Goethe become interested in German folk songs?
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Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, engraving by James Posselwhite, 19th century.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s interest in German folk songs was sparked during his time as a student in Strasbourg, where he made the acquaintance of Johann Gottfried von Herder.1
Herder, a leading figure of the Sturm und Drang movement, profoundly influenced the young Goethe by introducing him to several cultural interests, including Shakespeare, Gothic architecture, and traditional German folk songs. Inspired by Herder’s ideas regarding the authenticity of native poetry and the importance of feeling in art, Goethe became an active participant in this literary movement, which sought to emphasize nature, individualism, and emotional expression over the rationalism of the Enlightenment.12