Germany and Goethe

I might’ve been a little too quick to judge about The Sorrows of a Young Werther in my last post.  My professor had some very insightful comments (as he should seeing as how he’s taught this book for a decade now).  He also had to explain some of the customs and trends of that time, which did add to Werther’s like-ability.

I just put this together in class today – I’ve read another, more famous piece of Goethe’s - Doctor Faustaus.  I really did enjoy this play.  It’s about a man, Dr. Faustaus obviously, who rejects several conventions and gives his reasons.  Eventually he makes a deal with the devil, and of course you can imagine how the play ends given the time.  It was a good play, funny.  It’s not too long.  If 18th century German plays are your thing, this is one you should read.

There’s a relatively new movie out about Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.  It’s in German with English subtitles.  After watching it I find myself liking Werther a little bit more (the book takes many events from Goethe’s own life).

The German title is just Goethe!, which I think I like better than Young Goethe in Love.  It seems a little more exciting.  It also makes it a little easier having seen Germany.  In my mind as Werther is talking about laying in the grass and thinking about life and love and God, I imagine those rolling green hills that I saw in Germany.  I’d love to go back to Germany some day.  It is one of the most beautiful places I’ve seen!

I’m making this a quick post because I have to write a poem.  When my creative writing professor first told us about this assignment my immediate reaction was ”Oh dear God no – not poetry”.  I am not a poet.  I can read poetry and might be able to talk about it a little bit, but writing it?  No way.  I sound like a fool.  But I guess I have to give it a try.  Writing about an abstraction using only concrete imagery.  That shouldn’t be too bad right?  Wish me luck!

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