Goethe's Faust | Topics for Discussion & Projects

Goethe's Faust Topics for Discussion

The original version of Faust was written in Goethe's native German. In the introduction, Kaufmann discusses the issues that have come about due to faulty translations or through the editorializing of the translators. Also, the translations from German into English and other languages have often wrecked the beauty of the prose, creating a loss of context, syntax, and meter. Discuss Kaufmann's opinion on the translations of Goethe's work. Do you agree or disagree? Translate a passage from the original German to see if it matches the text in the book. Was it changed to create a different context or meter? Explain.

Discuss the history of Faust. Who was Dr. Johann Faust? When was he born? Did he live in Germany? What are the similarities between the actual person and the character created by Goethe? Did Faust dabble in the black arts? Is there any proof that Faust made a pact...
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