Die Siebenschlaeferlegende in Goethes West-Oestlichem Divan

Type Thesis

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Summary

This thesis deals with the literary genre known as legend. During the Middle Ages legends were texts of purely religious character. However, the tradition of writing legends continues into the secularized Modern Age. By way of example, the "Legend of the Seven Sleepers" by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe is analysed here by emphasizing features characteristic of modern legend adaptation at and by showing the differences from the traditional form of this legend. The traditional Christian version and the traditional Islamic version of this legend are discussed first as the "Legend of the Seven Sleepers" belongs both to the Christian and Islamic cultures and because Goethe's "Seven Sleepers" is actually based on an Islamic source. After this, Goethe's version is compared with the aforementioned Islamic original as to style and intention. In revealing the message of the legend use is made of the prose part of Goethe's "Divan", the "Noten and Abhandlungen zum besseren Verständnis des Divans". The connection between the motif of the legend and the entire collection of poems in the "Divan" follows. The contents of the legend are thoroughly analysed. The free adaptation of the legend does not entirely remove the religious substance but pushes it into the background. The legend is not reproduced for its religious substance - as could be assumed - but to show the variety of the religious phenomena in the world.