Sturm und Drang [Storm and Stress]

Literary/ Cultural Context Essay

Gerhard P. Knapp (University of Utah)

The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.4.1: German-language Writing and Culture: Germany, 500-present.
Vol. editors: Gerhard P. Knapp (University of Utah), Jennifer Marston William (Purdue University), Herbert Rowland (Purdue University), Jill E. Twark (East Carolina University)

Domains

Movements, styles and periods (literature)

Dates

Date of occurrence 1767-1786

Places

Germany (Location)

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“

Sturm und Drang

” [Storm and Stress] is the name of a fairly brief (approximately 1767-1786) but highly productive period in German literature situated between the literary manifestations of the Enlightenment and Weimar Classicism. This period is also called

Geniezeit

[the era of “universal”, “original” or “powerful” genius]. The established English translation “Storm and Stress” is not entirely felicitous: “passion and energy” or “energy and rebellion” would be more appropriate.

Sturm und Drang

derives its name from a drama by Friedrich Maximilian Klinger (1752-1831) originally titled

Wirrwarr

[

Chaos

] and re-named

Sturm und Drang

(1776) on the suggestion of Christoph Kaufmann (1753-1795), a propagator of the cult of genius and minor writer of the time.

It has

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2477 words

Citation: Knapp, Gerhard P.. "Sturm und Drang [Storm and Stress]". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 13 February 2003 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/stopics.php?rec=true&UID=1266, accessed 25 November 2024.]

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Sturm und Drang [Storm and Stress]

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