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 66
... interpretation of Hamlet corroborates this understanding of his own life . When he edits the play down to a shorter , performance version , Hamlet also becomes a drama of inescapable fate . Meister transfers responsibility from the ...
... interpretation of Hamlet corroborates this understanding of his own life . When he edits the play down to a shorter , performance version , Hamlet also becomes a drama of inescapable fate . Meister transfers responsibility from the ...
Page 155
... interpretations of the Pedagogical Province , and I will bring these arguments to bear on my essay below . No interpretation I know of discusses the question of Bildung in the novel as a whole , except C. H. Schädel , Metamorphose und ...
... interpretations of the Pedagogical Province , and I will bring these arguments to bear on my essay below . No interpretation I know of discusses the question of Bildung in the novel as a whole , except C. H. Schädel , Metamorphose und ...
Page 190
... interpretation of the Bible . To question what was genuine and true in some simple factual sense is to miss the power and the truth contained in these myths : " What is genuine but that which is truly excellent , which stands in harmony ...
... interpretation of the Bible . To question what was genuine and true in some simple factual sense is to miss the power and the truth contained in these myths : " What is genuine but that which is truly excellent , which stands in harmony ...
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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