Talk:Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Goethe: A Romantic writer?
Can we really consider Geothe to be a romantic writer? He should be considered a pre-romantic, he is closely associated with Weimar Classicism and the Sturm und Drang movements, which paved the way for the Romantic movement, but cannot truly be considered part of the Romantic movement. Dadadali 21:12, 3 October 2007 (UTC)

I completely agree here, there even is a passage in Goethe's work which proclaims the romantic movement to be "the sick" whereas the classic movement is seen as the pure and sane. So in the context of German literature is is not considered part of the romantic movement even if his work inspired a lot of romantic writers of his time. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 87.176.27.11 (talk) 15:54, 18 May 2009 (UTC)

In my German School I was taught that young Goethe was a poet of the "Sturm und Drang Movement", old Goethe was a writer of the "Klassik". But he was an inspiration for German romantic writers. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Frances K. (talk • contribs) 21:42, 13 November 2019 (UTC)

Bibliography and "Works" Heading
I am very confused as to why the "Works" heading contains a list of works about Goethe rather than his own works, particularly since there is a link at the top of the section linked to the article on Goethe's biography. If anything, these could go under the See Also heading rather than misleading people into assuming they are about Goethe. DynaGuy00 (talk) 14:52, 23 November 2019 (UTC)

Goethe's nationality "German"?
The factbox gives Goethe's nationality as "German". Isn't this anachronistic? No doubt he is regarded by modern Germans as "German", and as the greatest German writer, but since there was no country called "Germany" then, surely he was not a "German national".

59.153.114.235 (talk) 23:50, 23 October 2020 (UTC)

Unless someone comments, I'll go ahead and change "Nationality" to "Ethnicity".

59.153.114.235 (talk) 00:02, 27 October 2020 (UTC)
 * There is no ethnicity parameter in Template:Infobox writer; so it'll better stay as it is. -- Michael Bednarek (talk) 05:44, 27 October 2020 (UTC)
 * I don't fill para nationality, and suggest to do so here as well. Places of birth and death should suggest sufficiently where to locate him in history. - Will do, please discuss here if you think differently. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 08:24, 27 October 2020 (UTC)
 * Calling Goethe "German" is anachronistic, and I agree that the "nationality" parameter is better left blank. Carlstak (talk) 11:51, 27 October 2020 (UTC)


 * Thank you. 157.7.194.173 (talk) 12:13, 1 November 2020 (UTC)

There was no German state than but German people and a German nation though Goethe was a German poet like Dante was a Italian poet (though there was no State Italy before 1867.)--Frances K. (talk) 21:19, 13 December 2020 (UTC)

I think that’s an interesting point; he tends to be referred to as German in academic reference materials. I don’t know if there was “German” identity back then, ethno-linguistic, in spite of there being various other state entities. Jukhamil (talk) 23:38, 10 January 2021 (UTC)

Amateur Artist
Should mention be made of Goethe's drawings? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 98.244.137.86 (talk) 02:37, 25 March 2022 (UTC)

ipa
is there a reason the pronunciation is in a footnote not next to his name as usual? Bufobuff (talk) 22:55, 25 May 2023 (UTC)


 * It's just to make the lead section less cluttered. Kornatice (talk) 00:43, 26 May 2023 (UTC)