Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was a German poet, playwright, novelist, and natural philosopher.http://www.online-literature.com/goethe/ His earliest lyric poems, set to music, were published when he was 20 years old. A number of Goethe’s poems were inspired by the women in his life. While Ulrike von Levetzow inspired his poems Trilogie der Leidenschaft, Marianne von Willemer was his Muse for Westöstlicher Diwan.http://www.poetseers.org/the_great_poets/eu/johann_wolfgang_von_goethe/ Goethe's aesthetic theory was partially influenced by his friend, German poet Friedrich von Schiller, whom he met in 1794.http://www.iuj.ac.jp/media/stokes/goethe.htm http://www.online-literature.com/goethe/ Both Goethe and Schiller were considered major figures of the Sturm und Drang (Storm and Stress) movement which marked the beginning of Romanticism in Germany.http://library.thinkquest.org/C0126184/english/litgermansturm.htm

While Goethe was best known for his literary works including the dramatic poem of Faust and the epistolary novel The Sorrows of Young Werther, he was an enthusiast about natural science.http://www.iuj.ac.jp/media/stokes/goethe.htm His extensive scientific studies led to a number of published works in plant biology and optics. http://www.iuj.ac.jp/media/stokes/goethe.htm http://www.amazon.com/Goethe-Science-Selection-Goethes-Writings/dp/0863152376 Because of his friendship with Duke Karl August and the public duties at Weimar, Goethe was also a leading political figure in the Napoleonic era.http://www.iuj.ac.jp/media/stokes/goethe.htm http://www.online-literature.com/goethe/ His diversified contributions made Goethe one of the most influential figures of German culture.http://www.iuj.ac.jp/media/stokes/goethe.htm

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was born into a well-off middle class family in Frankfurt am Main. His father Johann Kaspar Goethe was a lawyer as well as an advisor to the Kaiser whereas his mother Katherine Elisabeth Textor was the daughter of the mayor of Frankfurt.http://www.german.leeds.ac.uk/RWI/2003_04project5/Goethet.htm Goethe was mostly educated at home by his father before going to Leipzig to study law at the age of 16.http://www.online-literature.com/goethe/ His study at the University of Leipzig was cut short due to illness. Goethe resumed his law study in Strasbourg in 1770 after a two year stay at home in Frankfurt.http://www.german.leeds.ac.uk/RWI/2003_04project5/Goethet.htm Despite receiving his license and starting a career in law, Goethe’s passion for literature did not wane. Götz von Berlichingen in 1773 and The Sorrows of Young Werther in 1774 brought him fame and admiration throughout Europe.http://www.online-literature.com/goethe/

Among his many noble admirers was Duke Karl August, who invited Goethe to his court at Weimar. Goethe held a number of public offices at Weimar where he stayed for the majority of his remaining life. With a secured income at Weimar, Goethe was at liberty to follow his literary pursuits. His scientific interests, which began when he was in Strasbourg, were also revived with dedicated studies and lectures.http://www.online-literature.com/goethe/

While traveling in Italy between 1786 and 1788, Goethe met Christiane Vulpius, who became his secret lover of 17 years before he married her in 1806.http://www.online-literature.com/goethe/ http://www.german.leeds.ac.uk/RWI/2003_04project5/Goethet.htm The trip to Italy inspired Goethe to finish his play Iphigenie auf Tauris, and Römishe Elegien.http://www.german.leeds.ac.uk/RWI/2003_04project5/Goethet.htm It was also during his Italian trip that Goethe wrote the first version of Faust. In 1808, Faust Part I was published. Following Goethe’s wish, the final part of Faust, which was finished in 1831, was published after his death.http://www.online-literature.com/goethe/

Goethe was buried alongside his friend Schiller, whose friendship Goethe treasured until Schiller’s death in 1805. Their mausoleum is in the ducal cemetery at Weimar.http://www.poetseers.org/the_great_poets/eu/johann_wolfgang_von_goethe