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 101
... tradition in literature before , but it had been a lifeless list of names and dates . With Herder's encouragement and his own desire to stand on his own , he realizes that by breaking with this lifeless past , he can relate to this ...
... tradition in literature before , but it had been a lifeless list of names and dates . With Herder's encouragement and his own desire to stand on his own , he realizes that by breaking with this lifeless past , he can relate to this ...
Page 103
... traditions they continue to shape not only values but also the very means of comprehending the world . Traditions are modes of being and ways of knowing being . Goethe was part of a German folk tradition but he was also the heir of the ...
... traditions they continue to shape not only values but also the very means of comprehending the world . Traditions are modes of being and ways of knowing being . Goethe was part of a German folk tradition but he was also the heir of the ...
Page 106
... tradition , to act and create within it , was very different from merely observing it and appreciating its historical development . To Goethe tradition gave him the means , or as he said the " organs " by which he came to know both ...
... tradition , to act and create within it , was very different from merely observing it and appreciating its historical development . To Goethe tradition gave him the means , or as he said the " organs " by which he came to know both ...
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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