Goethe's Faust: Second Part, a Commentary on the Literary Bible of the Occident (Classic Reprint) - Hardcover

Denton J. Snider

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0266219101 ISBN 13: 9780266219101

Publisher: Forgotten Books, 2018

Synopsis

Discover a rigorous, accessible guide to Goethe’s Faust Part II, with clear paths through its mythic and moral questions.

This commentary illuminates the late drama’s key ideas, from volcanic imagery and the birth of a “New Mountain” to the entwining of secular action with spiritual meaning. It explains how negative forces are transformed into a hopeful, universal outlook, and how Goethe uses structure, myth, and allusion to shape the work’s ultimate message.

Readers will see how the editor ties together historical context, legendary material, and Goethe’s artistry. The discussion engages central debates about the Walpurgis Night, the role of the Eternal Womanly, and the poem’s reconciliation of human striving with providence. The result is a thoughtful companion for studying a complex, enduring work.

• Clear explanations of major scenes and symbolic images, including Seismos, the Sphinx, and the New Mountain.
• Explanations of the poem’s arguments about violence, social order, and the evolution of beauty, faith, and reason.
• Insights into how the work blends secular life with religious themes, and what that means for readers today.
• Notes on scholarly interpretations, including how editors connect the text to Dante and to broader literary history.

Ideal for readers of Goethe, students, and anyone seeking a thoughtful, accessible entry into this late masterpiece.

Edition details

• Publisher: Forgotten Books
• Publication date: 2018
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0266219101
• ISBN 13: 9780266219101
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 397