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 59
... present . Images remembered or actually present , impressions which cut individuals off from their world or those which further connect them with it , are the new themes in the Lehrjahre . Action and experiences , reality and fate ...
... present . Images remembered or actually present , impressions which cut individuals off from their world or those which further connect them with it , are the new themes in the Lehrjahre . Action and experiences , reality and fate ...
Page 201
... present , into an augmented present , Helena overcomes the blurry nature of her past in a heightened sense of her present reality . This clarity comes in a momentary blinding by a searing flash of recognition , as she perceives her ...
... present , into an augmented present , Helena overcomes the blurry nature of her past in a heightened sense of her present reality . This clarity comes in a momentary blinding by a searing flash of recognition , as she perceives her ...
Page 204
... present form , as well as by projecting an ideal future . Through this encounter with Helena , Faust too can clearly see his present form through the often blurry and obscure screen of his long and stormy career , from the ...
... present form , as well as by projecting an ideal future . Through this encounter with Helena , Faust too can clearly see his present form through the often blurry and obscure screen of his long and stormy career , from the ...
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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