Images of Identity: Goethe and the Problem of Self-conception in the Nineteenth CenturyThe word «Bildung» - variously defined as «education» or «self-formation» - came into popular usage in western Europe through the terminological revolution of the late eighteenth century. No single individual was more influential in giving his own definition to this key word than was Goethe. Through an analysis of Goethe's use of the term in the Bildungsroman Wilhelm Meisters Lehrjahre, Goethe's autobiography, Dichtung und Wahrheit, and the much neglected text Wilhelm Meisters Wanderjahre, Sax shows how «Bildung» was more than a process of self-formation, for it included an understanding of the relation of the individual to society, to history, and through the interpretation of symbols, to a transcendent level of meaning as well. It is Sax's purpose to place Goethe's notion of «Bildung» within the context of the history of Western self-conceptions since the Renaissance. |
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Page 15
... direct and even " childlike " relation to the living present and pointed not to the progressive education of the human race but the fullness of being in mankind's early history . Goethe was also critical of all existing forms of social ...
... direct and even " childlike " relation to the living present and pointed not to the progressive education of the human race but the fullness of being in mankind's early history . Goethe was also critical of all existing forms of social ...
Page 95
... direct and natural way elements of this world appeal to elements within himself , an ideal unity of self and world is thereby envisioned as a goal . This discovery of the unitary structure of this world is linked to a decisive ...
... direct and natural way elements of this world appeal to elements within himself , an ideal unity of self and world is thereby envisioned as a goal . This discovery of the unitary structure of this world is linked to a decisive ...
Page 189
... direct way . After the " Enjoyment of Life viewed from without , " in which the senses snatch up the substance of experience and devour it , there occurs the " Enjoyment of Deeds -- directed outward , " in which Faust asserts himself ...
... direct way . After the " Enjoyment of Life viewed from without , " in which the senses snatch up the substance of experience and devour it , there occurs the " Enjoyment of Deeds -- directed outward , " in which Faust asserts himself ...
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Common terms and phrases
able acceptance achieved action active Anschauung appearances attempts beautiful become begins Bildung called comes complete comprehend condition continues creation creative criticism cultural definition desire Dichtung direct drama dream earlier enjoyment entire eternal existence experience expression eyes fate Faust feelings final forces fully gives Goethe Goethe's harmony Helena higher historical human idea ideal identity impressions individual infinite inner interpretation Italy knowledge language leads learned Lehrjahre limitations living longing meaning Meister move movement nature never novel object once organ original particular past perceive perception personality possess present problems provides pure question reality realize recognizes reflection relation remains revealed scene seems sense social society specific spiritual stage striving structure symbolic temporal things thought tradition true truth turn ultimate understanding unity universal various viewing vision Wanderjahre Werther whole Wilhelm young