Lectures on Dramatic Art and Literature (ePub)

August Wilhelm von Schlegel (1767-1845) was a seminal German poet, critic, and scholar, renowned for his substantial contribution to literary criticism and his influence on the Romantic movement. Schlegel was born in Hanover, the son of a Lutheran pastor, imbuing his early years with classical education. He studied at the University of Göttingen, where he developed a passion for the arts that would shape his career. His expertise spanned multiple languages and cultures, enriching his literary analysis and translations, particularly of Shakespeare, which brought a new standard to German literary translation. August Wilhelm, alongside his brother Friedrich, played a critical role in developing the Romantic school of thought, emphasizing the historical and cultural contexts of literature and the importance of national identity. His 'Lectures on Dramatic Art and Literature' are a testament to his systematic approach to literary history and criticism, offering insightful views on the essence of drama and its evolution, influencing literary theory well beyond his time. Schlegel's work laid the groundwork for comparative literature and hermeneutics, and his discerning pursuits in philology and Indo-European languages also placed him at the forefront of linguistic studies. He was a distinguished member of the intellectual circle in Jena and later in life served as a professor in Bonn. Schlegel's legacy is tightly interwoven with the intellectual fabric of European Romanticism and his scholarly methods endure in modern literary criticism (Paulin, 1985).