Synopsis
Discover the origins of Goethe's Faust in the rich pre-Goethe tradition, from chap-books to Marlowe. This volume surveys the Faust legend before Goethe, showing how older stories, legends, and early plays shaped the famous tragedy. It presents a clear, scholarly tour of ideas, debates, and key figures that fed the epic work Fischer would later discuss in depth. This edition traces the development of the Faust story from early magical legends through the popular chap-books, Lessing’s unfinished projects, and Marlowe’s tragedy. It explains how themes of magic, temptation, and the quest for knowledge grew into a complex literary tradition that Goethe later transformed. You’ll see how different authors interpreted power, science, religion, and the human longing for understanding. - Explore the origins of the magus legend and its religious, magical, and philosophical strands. - Learn how chap-books and early plays shaped the character, motives, and events surrounding Faust. - See Lessing’s attempts to dramatize Faust and the debate over the legend’s form and purpose. - Follow the path from medieval and early modern tales to the European drama that culminated in Goethe’s work. Ideal for readers of literary history, Faust scholarship, or anyone curious about how a single figure grew into one of German literature’s grand myths.
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