How did Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s Italian journey affect his literary style?

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s journey to Italy (1786–1788) marked a profound shift in his literary style, moving him away from the emotional intensity of the Sturm und Drang movement toward the ideals of Classical antiquity.21

Key influences and changes included:

• Adoption of Classical Forms: During his time in Italy, Goethe sought to embody the harmony between nature and humanity found in the ancient world. He transitioned from the prose and irregular structures of his earlier work to writing in blank verse and classical metres.23
• The "Idea" of Antiquity: While he was initially disappointed by the ruins of Rome, his travels in Sicily—a landscape he felt was "impregnated with a Greek past"—provided him with a concrete "idea" of the ancient world. This experience brought classical literature to life for him in a way that transformed his creative vision.2
• Shift in Themes: His writing became more focused on the pursuit of human perfection and the aesthetic ideals of the ancients. This influence is evident in his later works, such as the Roman Elegies and his epic Hermann und Dorothea, which utilized hexameter verse.3
• Renunciation (Entsagung): Ultimately, the journey led him to recognize that the modern world could not fully replicate the classical past. This realization fostered a philosophy of Entsagung (renunciation), where he accepted that while classical perfection was an ideal to inspire him, it could no longer be lived as a daily reality.3