HUM 002A Lecture Notes - Lecture 24: Chapbook
Lecture 24: Goethe and Romanticism in Literature
1. Brief introduction of the era and the Faust’s story.
a. Romanticism and the Enlightenment: a movement in Europe, same as
Industrial-late 18th. Nature is vibrant, full of wind, rain, storm (Romantic)
b. The Faust Story: A middle aged man meets a devil and signed a contract w/
blood. The devil will do whatever for Faust in life and Faust will be his after
death.
c. Goethe’s Faust (written over 60 years, finished in 1832): Faust’s serving time
w/ a bet. (Story w/ a paradox)
d. In the Spies Chapbook (1587): Someone published a chapbook/exemblem -
gives examples of what not to do, teach moral values
e. In the real life Faust, Dr, Johann Faustus (late 15th century) goes out and
signed a contract in blood, will serve the devil later for eternality. Waited to
know things beyond human understanding. When the night’s done after
knowing what he wished for, the devil killed him in a violent manner. The next
day, his friend found him death in pieces.
2. Brief biography of Goethe’s life and how he changed the Faust story.
a. Man of Enlightenment, loves knowledge and writes different genres of
literatures: fiction, classical, etc. Studied plants, started a botany, studied
clouds, skeleton. Traveled and became a politician. Lived a full life. Lover,
never have a sexual contact until late 30s. Depicts his life in Faust.
b. Goethe’s Faust story: Started w/ a Prologue in Heaven. God and the devil are
making a deal: the devil said he can bring Faust down. God said that as long
as man lives, he makes mistakes and strives for the truth.
i. In Faust Act 1: Started w/ a prologue w/ quotations of Book of Job.
Part 1: A deal b/w the devil and Faust. Then Faust goes out and tries to
seduce a woman. Faust asks the devil to give the girl’s sick mother w/
a death potion. Impregnated the girl and she gave birth and was
terrified- killed the newborn baby. She got arrested, Faust regretted
and tried to get her out of jail. Gretchen is saved in Act 1.
ii. Part 2: Goes to the empire, saved the Roman Empire from bankruptcy
and ended up marrying Helen of Joy. Faust did some good while the
devil evicted all the old ppl. God decided to have mercy on Faust and
saved him.
3. What are some aspects of Goethe’s Faust?
a. Theme of Knowledge: reference to Adam and Eve’s fall from grace. Eve tries
to obtain the knowledge b/w good and evil to be a bigger person. Built Faust
w/ this persona: curiosity, to experience excitement, the unknown, to be a
better person - how to make human worthwhile in Faust, which led to
dangerous paths. To feel connected and have an emotional play
b. Scholarly or academic knowledge vs. life experience (Faust in his Study):
Bookshelves up to the ceiling. Old man in a room, feels old and depressed-
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Lecture 24: goethe and romanticism in literature: brief introduction of the era and the faust"s story, romanticism and the enlightenment: a movement in europe, same as. Nature is vibrant, full of wind, rain, storm (romantic: the faust story: a middle aged man meets a devil and signed a contract w/ blood. In the real life faust, dr, johann faustus (late 15th century) goes out and signed a contract in blood, will serve the devil later for eternality. When the night"s done after knowing what he wished for, the devil killed him in a violent manner. The next day, his friend found him death in pieces: brief biography of goethe"s life and how he changed the faust story, man of enlightenment, loves knowledge and writes different genres of literatures: fiction, classical, etc. Studied plants, started a botany, studied clouds, skeleton. Lover, never have a sexual contact until late 30s.
