"Storm and Stress" - "Sturm und Drang" Quiz

Answer: 1771-83

Some literary historians regard Gerstenberg's intensely macabre, quasi-"Gothic" drama "Ugolino" (1768) as part of the "Sturm und Drang", but in purely formal terms it still displays some key classical features. By the late 1770s the movement appeared to be spent, but experienced an important revival with Schiller's early work (c. 1781-83).

Answer: Pre-Romanticism

There is no exact parallel, however. One of the most remarkable features of the "Sturm und Drang" was the sudden explosion of literary energy in the early 1770s.

Answer: All of these

The sudden preoccupation with "genius" foreshadowed Romanticism. The interest in "noble simplicity" owes much to the art historian Johann Winckelmann (1717-68), who stressed the simplicity of Classical art and architecture. This contrasted sharply with some earlier views that had tended to focus on its alleged complexity.

The "Kraftkerl" ("heroic titan") was a type widely admired by the "Sturm und Drang": outstanding examples of the type include Götz von Berlichingen and Prometheus.

Answer: Aristotle

Herder did much to encourage the view of the of the folk song as a literary genre in its own right. The influence of Shakespeare was immense and was seen as highly liberating - from the conventions of classical drama. Rousseau (and Herder) were key influences. Aristotle, viewed as the "codifier" of classical drama, and was unpopular with the "Sturm und Drang" writers.

Answer: True

The movement was, after all, a rebellion against eighteenth-century rationalism. In fairness, however, it should be said that Herder stressed, at least in principle, the essential unity and totality of the individual's personality.

Answer: Goethe, Die Leiden des Jungen Werthers - The Sorrows of Young Werther

The novel appeared in 1774 and was an almost instant success right across Europe. It is said that Napoleon read it seven times. The "hero", a self-indulgent character, wallows in his unhappiness, depression and Weltschmerz. Suddenly, some young men started to dress like him (in blue coats and yellow breeches) and a number of suicides were attributed to the influence of the book.

There was also the embarrassing case of Christel von Lassberg who committed suicide near Goethe's house in 1777 with a copy of the novel in her pocket!

Answer: It was the title of a play by F. M. Klinger

The play was completed in 1776 and the author, Friedrich Maximilian Klinger (1752-1831), was persuaded to change the title to "Sturm und Drang". With its emphasis on power and energy its implications were entirely positive.

Answer: Strasbourg

Goethe (1749-1832) began his university studies at Leipzig, then moved to Strasbourg in 1770, where he met Herder. It was, above all, Goethe's talent and energy that made the early "Sturm und Drang" a dymanic literary movement.

Answer: False

Though largely true of Goethe, some of the other authors - in particular, Lenz and Heinrich Wagner, showed an interest in social issues - and Schiller's early work attacked the despotism and arbitrary government then so widepsread in many of the German states.

Answer: Schiller

Friedrich Schiller (1759-1805) was born about a decade later than most of the others and began writing later. His early work is clearly "Sturm und Drang", with its emphasis on emotion, rebellion, power and extravagance in speech. By the mid 1780s, however, he moved on to much more restrained writing - and the "Sturm und Drang" was over by 1785. Though the movement was short-lived its impact on German literature was enormous.