EIGHTEENTH CENTURY GERMAN CRITICISM

Edited by Timothy J. Chamberlain

CONTINUUM • NEW YORK Contents

Introduction: Timothy J. Chamberlain ix

JOHANN CHRISTOPH GOTTSCHED Critical Poetics 3 Translated by Timothy J. Chamberlain

GOTTHOLD EPHRAIM LESSING, FRIEDRICH NICOLAI, MOSES MENDELSSOHN Correspondence on Tragedy 8 Translated by Timothy]. Chamberlain

GOTTHOLD EPHRAIM LESSING Laocoon: An Essay on the Limits of Painting and Poetry 40 Translated by Edward Allan McComtick; Notes by Edward Allan McCormick

FRIEDRICH GOTTLIEB KLOPSTOCK On Sacred Poetry 74 Translated by Timothy]. Chamberlain

JOHANN GEORG HAMANN Aesthetica in nuce: A Rhapsody in Cabalistic Prose 80 Translated by Joyce P. Crick, with modifications by H. B. Nisbet; Notes by H. B. Nisbet vi • Contents

JOHANN GOTTFRIED HERDER On Recent German Literature. First Collection of Fragments. 2: On the Ages of a Language 104 Translated by Timothy J. Chamberlain Critical Forests: Erst Grove 108 Translated by Timothy J. Chamberlain Extract from a Correspondence on Ossian and the Songs of Ancient Peoples 132 Translated by Joyce P. Crick, with modifications by H. B. Nisbet; Notes by H. B. Nisbet Shakespeare 143 Translated by Joyce P. Crick, with modifications by H. B. Nisbet; Notes by H. B. Nisbet Letters for the Advancement of Humanity (1796). Eighth Collection. Ninth Fragment. Letter 107 164 Translated by Timothy J. Chamberlain

JOHANN WOLFGANG VON GOETHE On Shakespeare's Day 170 Translated by Timothy J. Chamberlain Review of The Fine Arts in Their Origins, Their True Nature and Their Best Application, by J. G. Sulzer 175 Translated by Timothy J. Chamberlain From Goethe's Pocketbook 179 Translated by Timothy J. Chamberlain Simple Imitation of Nature, Manner, Style 181 Translated by S. G. Ward On Epic and Dramatic Poetry 185 Translated by F. W. J. Heuser Literary Sansculottism 188 Translated by F. W. J. Heuser; Revised by Timothy J. Chamberlain

JAKOB MICHAEL REINHOLD LENZ On Gotz von Berlichingen 192 Translated by Timothy J. Chamberlain Contents • vii

Letters on the Morality of The Sorrows of Young Werther 197 Translated by Timothy J. Chamberlain Review of The New Menoza, Composed by the Author Himself 204 Translated by Timothy J. Chamberlain

FRIEDRICH VON BLANCKENBURG Essay on the Novel 206 Translated by Timothy J. Chamberlain

CHRISTOPH MARTIN WIELAND The Eagerness to Give Our Poetry a National Character 228 Translated by Timothy J. Chamberlain Letters to a Young Poet: Letter Three 234 Translated by Timothy J. Chamberlain

KARL PHILIPP MORTTZ On the Concept of That Which Is Perfect in Itself 245 Translated by Timothy J. Chamberlain

GOTTFRIED AUGUST BURGER Outpourings from the Heart on Folk Poetry 252 Translated by Timothy J. Chamberlain On Popularity in Poetry 258 Translated by Timothy J. Chamberlain

FRIEDRICH SCHILLER On Burger's Poems 262 Translated by Timothy J. Chamberlain

Biographical Notes on Writers and Artists 275