CONTENTS

I. THE THEORY OF ART

PAGE
On German Architecture 3
Introduction to the Propylæa 15
Upon the Laocoon 22
The Collector and his Friends 36
On Truth and Probability in Works of Art 51
Simple Imitation of Nature, Manner, Style 59
Ancient and Modern 65
Notes on Dilettantism 71
II. THE THEORY OF LITERATURE
The Production of a National Classic 83
Goethe’s Theory of a World Literature 89
On Epic and Dramatic Poetry 100
Supplement to Aristotle’s Poetics 104
On the German Theatre 109
Ludwig Tieck’s Dramaturgic Fragments 126
On Didactic Poetry 130
Superstition and Poetry 133
The Methods of French Criticism 134
On Criticism 140
III. ON SHAKESPEARE
Wilhelm Meister’s Critique of Hamlet 145
Shakespeare ad Infinitum 174
The First Edition of Hamlet 190
Troilus and Cressida 195
IV. ON OTHER WRITERS
Goethe as a Young Reviewer 199
Byron’s Manfred 202
Byron’s Don Juan 205
Calderon’s Daughter of the Air 208
Molière’s Misanthrope 212
Old German Folksongs 213
Folksongs again Commended 220
Laurence Sterne 222
The English Reviewers 224
German Literature in Goethe’s Youth 226
V. EXTRACTS FROM THE CONVERSATIONS WITH ECKERMANN
The Universality of Poetry, 249; Poetry and
Patriotism, 251; Poetry and History, 253; Originality,
255; Personality in Art, 258; Subject-Matter
of Poetry, 259; The Influence of Environment,
261; Culture and Morals, 263;
Classic and Romantic, 263; Taste, 264; Style,
265; Intellect and Imagination, 266; Definition
of Poetry, 266; Definition of Beauty, 266;
Architecture and Music, 267; Primitive Poetry,
267; Weltliteratur, 267; French Critics, 268; The
Construction of a Good Play, 268; Dramatic
Unities 270; The Theatre, 271; Acting, 271;
Dramatic Situations, 272; Management of the
Theatre, 272; Menander, 273; Calderon, 273;
Molière, 273; Shakespeare, 275; A. W. Schlegel’s
Lectures on Dramatic Art and Literature,
276; The French Romanticists, 277; Victor
Hugo, 279; The “Idea” of Tasso and Faust,
280; Schiller, 282; Edinburgh Review, 283;
Byron, 283; Scott, 286.
APPENDIX
 I. On the Selection and Translation of the Essays in this Volume 291
II. On the Chronology of Goethe’s Critical Studies 295
INDEX 301