The Life and Works of Goethe: With Sketches of His Age and Contemporaries ... - George Henry Lewes - Google Books

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concrete phenomena, not towards abstractions.- Nowhere at-

temps a refutation of Newton. - His success in the organic

sciences. Not a metaphysician, but a thinker on the à priori

method. - Review of his discovery of the intermaxilary bone.

-Employment of the comparative method. The doctrine of

morphology. The vertebral theory, and theory of plants. Meta-

morphosis. — Subsequent limitation of the theory of metamorphosis

by the cell-theory. Goethe's creation of a type. - Comparison

of Goethe's discovery with Wolff's. — Goethe's hypothesis of elab-

orated sap opposed to Wolff's hypothesis of deficient sap. —Law

of vegetation and law of reproduction clearly seen by Goethe.

-Objection to the morphological theory. The notion of meta-

morphosis replaced by the notion of substitution. Goethe's

efforts to create the science of philosophic anatomy. - The positive

method. - Principle of development grasped and applied by

Goethe. The Polyp.-Law of division of labor in the animal

organism clearly expressed in Goethe's formula. - Goethe's in-

troduction to Comparative Anatomy.' Typical structure.

Examination of Goethe's claim to the discovery of the vertebral

theory of the skull. Goethe the originator of the idea, but
- Oken's premature disclosure of Goethe's

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Oken the discoverer.

115

THE CAMPAIGN IN FRANCE.

Goethe's second visit to Italy. - The Venetian epigrams. Return

to Weimar. Friday evenings. 'Der Gross Kophta.'-Invasion

of France for the Restoration of Louis XVI. Goethe accompanies

Utter want of interest in politics. - Opposed to the

principles of the Revolution, but without sympathy for the Royal-
ists. His diary of the Campaign in France'

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HOME ONCE AGAIN.

Goethe's return to Weimar. His house in the Frauenplan. -The

study, the library and the bedroom. Friendship with Meyer.

BOOK THE SIXTH.

FRIENDSHIP WITH SCHILLER.

Friendship of Goethe and Schiller. Their profound dissimilarity.
- Personal appearance of both. — Goethe the representative of

Realism, and Schiller the representative of Idealism. — Points

of resemblance between Goethe and Schiller. Their mutual

earnestness in art. Similarity in the phases of their develop-

ment. Goethe restored to poetry by Schiller. - Goethe's admi-

ration for his rivals. His praise of Schiller. Shakespeare's

silence about his rivals. Indifference of Weimar to the progress

of the Revolution. - Contemporary state of German literature. -

'Die Horen' started by Schiller. - Rapid growth of the friend-

ship between Goethe and Schiller. Beneficial influence of

Schiller on Goethe. Goethe's scientific ardor and poetical

plans. Failure of the Horen '.- Publication of the Xenien'.

Sensation produced

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189

WILHELM MEISTER.

English, French and German on the camel. — German philosophical
criticism. Goethe's primary intention in Wilhelm Meister'..
Alterations in the plan. -Schiller's objection. - Its twofold
purposes, dramatic and educational. -Characters in the novel. -
Artistic atheism. Supposed immorality of Wilhelm Meister'.
- Its deep and healthy moral meaning. — The Confessions of a
Fair Saint'. Wilhelm's criticism on Hamlet'. - Extract from
Schiller's criticism on Wilhelm Meister'

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THE ROMANTIC SCHOOL.

Influences of Goethe and Schiller on each other. - Evil effects of
philosophy on German literature. Character of the Romantic
School in Germany. - Schlegel, Fichte, Schelling, Schleiermacher,

Shakespeare translated by Tieck and Schlegel.

Preference of the Romanticists for the legends and heroes of Cathol-

icism. General enthusiasm for Mysticism. — Art the hand maid

of Religion. — Return of the painters to Roman Catholicism and

the middle ages.

Theoretical discussions of Goethe and Schiller.

Goethe's literary labors. — Gives Schiller a plan of 'William

Tell'. Walter Scott

HERMANN UND DOROTHEA.

Foundation of Goethe's poem of Hermann und Dorothea'.

Analysis. Character of the poem. Truthful descriptions of

country life and country people. - Objective delineation of the

-Pure human existence represented in the subject-matter.

Clearness and significance of the style. Subtleties of German

æsthetical criticism

THE THEATRICAL MANAGER.

Court character of the Weimar stage. -National co-operation in-

dispensable to dramatic art. - Error of Goethe and Schiller in

appealing only to the cultivated few. Necessity for the combi-

nation of amusement with instruction in the drama. - Failure of

Goethe's experiments in the Weimar, theatre, arising from his

contempt of public opinion. - Influence of the Jena students

upon the Weimar theatre.

- Despotic efforts of Goethe to control

public criticism. - Managerial despotism over the actors. — Reve-

rence of the actors for Goethe. Difficulties in the management.

-Effect of the connection of Goethe and Schiller. Representa-

tion of Wallenstein '. - Devrient's critical observations on the

Weimar school. - Difficulties of rhythm and pronunciation. -

Art preferred to nature. Rehabilitation of the French tragedy.

- Delusive efforts to found a German drama by poetic works and

antique restorations. - Goethe no dramatist. His version of

Romeo and Juliet'.. Character of Shakespeare's play. — Inju-

rious alterations of Goethe. — Declining interest of Goethe in the

theatre after Schiller's death. Refusal to admit performing dogs

on the stage. Offensively dismissed by Karl August

SCHILLER'S LAST YEARS.

Goethe's mode of daily life. His reception of visitors. — Bürger

and Heine. Jean Paul Richter's description of Goethe. — Ibid.

of Schiller. Friendship of Goethe and Schiller, and partisanship

of their respective admirers. Kotzebue's unsuccessful efforts to

create a coolness between Goethe and Schiller. — Herder's jealousy

of Schiller. The Natürliche Tochter'. - Madame de Stael's

visit to Weimar.- Illness of Goethe and Schiller. - Schiller's

Gradual development of Faust', and progress of its composition.

-The Problem of our intellectual existence, and picture of our

social existence. Resemblance between Faust' and Hamlet'.

-Twofold cause of the popularity of Hamlet': intellectual sub-

limity and dramatic variety. — Popularity and prodigality of

'Faust'. The idea of "Faust" not so important a study as

the means ' which produce the effect. Analysis of the First

Part of Faust'. - The Theatre Prologue. The Prologue in

Heaven. Necessity for the two Prologues. — First scene of Faust

in his study. The scene before the gate. Faust's study. —

Auerbach's cellar. The witches' kitchen. — Meeting with Mar-

garet. - Wood and cavern.

The 'Walpurgis Nacht'.-

of the early disappointment and after fascination of the readers

of 'Faust'. — Inadequacy of all translations of poetry. - Analysis

of Marlowe's Faustus' and Calderon's El Magico Prodigioso'.

Description of Maler Müller's play. -- Coleridge's criticisms on

Goethe's 'Faust', compared with Goethe's own observations. –

In 'Faust', the problem stated but not solved

THE LYRICAL POEMS.

Goethe's fame lessened by his wealth.

occasional feebleness of his prose. - Witchery of his lyrics. -

Sincerity of their style. Simplicity and directness of the images.

Story of the 'Bride of Corinth '. -- ' Gott und die Bajadere '.

BOOK THE SEVENTH.

THE BATTLE OF JENA.

Effect of Schiller's death on Goethe. - Visit of Jacobi. -- Acquaint-

ance with Gall. —— Appreciation of Phrenology. - Battle of Jena.--

Sacking of Weimar. - French soldiers in Goethe's house.

Courage of the Duchess Luise. Napoleon's intemperate rage

against Karl August. Characteristic outburst of Goethe.

Goethe's marriage

BETTINA AND NAPOLEON.

Restoration of peace at Weimar. - Visit of Bettina. Her character.

--True nature of her intercourse with Goethe. - Forbidden

Goethe's house. Unauthenticity of the Correspondence

proved by Riemar. - Napoleon at Erfurt. His reception of

Karl August, Goethe and Wieland. — Conversations of Napoleon

with Goethe. - Goethe flattered by Napoleon's attentions..

Beethoven's ostentatious independence, and Goethe's supposed

364

ELECTIVE AFFINITIES.

Die Wahlverwandtschaften.'

Goethe's passion for Minna Herzlieb.

Plot and Character of the novel. General criticisms.

Marriage of Minna. Death of Goethe's mother

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