Johann Wolfgang von Goethe - Biography.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe - Biography. German poet, dramatist, novelist, and scientist Birth August 28, 1749 Death March 22, 1832 Place of Birth Frankfurt am Main, Germany Principal Weimar, Germany Residence Known For Profoundly influencing the development of German literature through his ideas about nature, human individuality, and heroism Milestones 1765-1771 Studied law in Leipzig and Strasbourg, with a hiatus between 1768 and 1770 1773 Published Götz von Berlichingen, a play that launched the emotion-laden Sturm und Drang (Storm and Stress) literary movement 1774 Published the romantic novel The Sorrows of Young Werther, after the unhappy end of a love affair 1775 Moved to Weimar, the intellectual and literary capital of Germany at the time 1786-1788 Traveled to Italy, where he studied the art, architecture, and literature of ancient Greece and Rome 1787 Published Iphigenia auf Tauris, a prose drama based on a Greek myth; with it he entered an emotionally calmer classical period 1791 Was appointed to direct the court theater at Weimar 1794 Formed a lasting and influential friendship with fellow German dramatist Friedrich von Schiller 1795-1796 Published the novel Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship 1808 Published the first part of his masterpiece, the dramatic poem Faust 1832 The second part of Faust was published posthumously. Goethe met both Napoleon and Beethoven and was impressed with the former but not the latter. In addition to literature, Goethe was interested in science and published works on comparative anatomy and optics. Did You Know Goethe's poetic drama Faust has been set to music by such composers as Franz Liszt, Robert Schuman, and Charles Gounod. For a time, Goethe was a high-ranking bureaucrat in the court of the duke of Saxe-Weimar. Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.