Goethe and Schiller's Xenions: Poetry Guide and Free Edition
Goethe and Schiller's Xenions: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.
Goethe and Schiller's Xenions is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Schiller, Friedrich (1759–1805); Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von (1749–1832). The listed translation credits are Carus, Paul (1852–1919).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"Goethe and Schiller''s Xenions by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Friedrich Schiller" is a collection of satirical epigrams written in the late 18th century. Cast in classical elegiac distichs, the work blends literary polemic with philosophical reflection, targeting critics and cultural trends while defending a higher ideal of art and thought. The likely topic is a sharp, witty defense of reason, taste, and moral seriousness against philistinism, sentimentality, and shallow rationalism, framed as brief, pointed couplets. The book begins with an account of the Xenions’ origin and their classical form, then presents the poems in themed groups. “Introductory” declares the poets’ purpose; “Soul and World” distills ideas on reason, nature, fate, and immortality; “Critical and Literary” assails dull reviewers and hollow trends; “Satirical and Personal” lampoons named figures like Nicolai and the Stolbergs; “The Philosophers in Hades” stages a brisk underworld colloquy with Descartes, Spinoza, Berkeley, Leibniz, Kant, Hume, Fichte, and others; “Philosophical Problems” weighs empiricism, system-building, teleology, and duty; “Science and Art” contrasts genius and imitation, poetry and natural science, and celebrates bold discovery through the figure of Columbus; and “Wisdom, Morality and Religion” offers compact maxims on virtue, truth versus error, ritual, mysticism, and the unity behind change. Extensive notes clarify names, quarrels, and allusions.
Book and edition facts
- Title: Goethe and Schiller's Xenions
- Author credits: Schiller, Friedrich (1759–1805); Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von (1749–1832)
- Catalogue language: English
- Translator credits: Carus, Paul (1852–1919)
Catalogue subjects
- German literature -- 18th century -- Translations into English
Gutenberg collections
- Category: Classics of Literature
- Category: German Literature
- Category: Humour
- Category: Poetry
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View the complete Gutenberg catalogue record. Project Gutenberg identifies this edition as public domain in the United States; that designation does not establish its copyright status in every country.
Source notes
Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.
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