In reviewing the whole range of Hoelderlin’s writings, we cannot avoid the conclusion, that in him we have a type of Weltschmerz in the broadest sense of the term; we might almost term it Byronism, with the sensual element eliminated.  He shows the hypersensitiveness of Werther, fanatical enthusiasm for a vague ideal of liberty, vehement opposition to existing social and political conditions; there is, in fact, a breadth in his Weltschmerz, which makes the sorrows of Werther seem very highly specialized in comparison.  Bearing in mind the distinction made between the two classes, we must designate Hoelderlin’s Weltschmerz as cosmic rather than egoistic; the egoistic element is there, but it is outweighed by the cosmic and finds its poetic expression not so frequently nor so intensely with reference to the poet himself, as with reference to mankind at large.

FOOTNOTES: 

[Footnote 12:  Anz. f. d.  Alt., vol. 22, p. 212-218.]

[Footnote 13:  In a letter to his mother he writes:  “Freilich ist’s mir auch angeboren, dass ich alles schwerer zu Herzen nehme.” ("Friedrich Hoelderlins Leben, in Briefen von und an Hoelderlin, von Carl C.T.  Litzmann,” Berlin, 1890, p. 27.  Hereafter quoted as “Briefe.").]

[Footnote 14:  “Hoelderlins gesammelte Dichtungen, herausgegeben von B. Litzmann,” Stuttgart, Cotta (hereafter quoted as “Werke").  Vol.  II, p. 9.]

[Footnote 15:  It is a reminiscence of Hoelderlin’s boyhood which finds expression in the words of Hyperion:  “Ich war aufgewachsen, wie eine Rebe ohne Stab, und die wilden Ranken breiteten richtungslos ueber dem Boden sich aus.”  Werke, Vol.  II, p. 72.]

[Footnote 16:  Werke, Vol.  I, p. 86.]

[Footnote 17:  Werke, Vol.  I, p. 36.]

[Footnote 18:  “Auf einer Heide geschrieben,” Werke, Vol.  I, p. 44.]

[Footnote 19:  Briefe, p. 27.]

[Footnote 20:  Briefe, p. 29.]

[Footnote 21:  Werke, Vol.  I, p. 53 f.]

[Footnote 22:  Briefe, p. 36.]

[Footnote 23:  Briefe, p. 120.]

[Footnote 24:  “Mein Vorsatz,” Werke, Vol.  I, p. 44.]

[Footnote 25:  Werke, Vol.  II, p. 69.]

[Footnote 26:  Werke, Vol.  II, p. 90.]

[Footnote 27:  Werke, Vol.  II, p. 86.]

[Footnote 28:  Briefe, p. 49.]

[Footnote 29:  Briefe, p. 50.]

[Footnote 30:  Werke, Vol.  I, p. 74.]

[Footnote 31:  “Friedrich Hoelderlin, Eine Studie,” Preuss.  Jahrb., 1866, p. 548-568.]

[Footnote 32:  Anz. f. d.  Altertum, Vol. 22, p. 212-218.]

[Footnote 33:  Werke, Vol.  I, p. 75.]

[Footnote 34:  Werke, Vol.  I, p. 146.]

[Footnote 35:  Werke, Vol.  II, p. 107.]

[Footnote 36:  Werke, Vol.  II, p. 188.]

[Footnote 37:  “Vortraege und Aufsaetze,” 1874, Fried.  Hoelderlin, p. 354.]

[Footnote 38:  Werke, Vol.  II, p. 96.]