Faust - Background and Resources

[Silver]

Please post any material here about the author or any other resources of which you think will be interesting or helpful to the reading. Please post spoiler warnings where appropriate.

As some people might have a question about scheduling, I wanted to add a note, to say that I am going to try something a bit different. I am concerned that in past when we have had discussions die out it may be because they were dragged on too long and members lost interest, so instead of posting a set schedule I am doing to try and be more organic with it.

Faust is broken up in two parts, and so I cam going to try and cover Part I this month and Part II next month, but it can be flexible.

[MadgeUK]

Thanks for all your hard work Silver. Kudos!

[MadgeUK]

This study guide by Washingtpon State University might be helpful. It says that there are several passages in the Bible which must be read in connection with specific lines in the play.(view spoiler)[

http://public.wsu.edu/~brians/hum_303...

(hide spoiler)]

There is a free online version of Faust here:-

http://en.goethe-faust.org/

And a downloadable version with stage directions etc.

http://poetryintranslation.com/PITBR/...

A little biography:-

http://www.nndb.com/people/962/000024...

[Silver]

Some information on the historical figure that inspired Goethe's Faust:

http://www.faust.com/index.php/legend...

[Nemo]

I found a translation in the original metres at Gutenberg and Adelaide, which can be downloaded to your eReader or read online.

In his preface, the translator, Bayard Taylor, makes a strong case for translating and reading Goethe's poetry in the original metres: The poetical affinity of the two languages provides "the possibility of reciprocally transferring the finest qualities of English and German poetry".

"Faust" at Gutenberg
"Faust" at ebooks@Adelaide

[Nemo]

“Goethe’s poems exercise a great sway over me, not only by their meaning, but also by their rhythm. It is a language which stimulates me to composition."
— Beethoven
(Quoted in Bayard Taylor's preface)

Faust reads like a symphony to me, with each character having a distinct rhythmic voice.

[Nemo]

Are we going to read Part II? I couldn't find any online downloadable version other than the one Madge posted, but that one didn't show well on my eReader.

[Silver]

Yes, I was planning on reading, I was not aware that it was difficult to find. So I suppose if a lot of memmbers do not have and cannot easily aquire the 2nd Part we will have to leave it off.

[Silver]

I love the work of Harry Clarke, who did a lot of Illustartion of Poe's work.

I found a collection of images of his for Faust that I think are quite interesting:

http://www.grandmasgraphics.com/clark...

[Nemo]

Silver wrote: "I love the work of Harry Clarke, who did a lot of Illustartion of Poe's work.

I found a collection of images of his for Faust that I think are quite interesting"

Clarke's illustrations accompany Bayard Taylor's translation, if you want to see them in context. What do you like about them?

[Silver]

Nemo Clarke's illustrations accompany Bayard Taylor's translation, if you want to see them in context. What do you like about them?

I really like his artistic style, and his use of black and white and I really enjoy the macabreness of his work.