Gipsy Song
The poem is a lamentation of the transience of life and love. It describes a gypsy's song that captures the fleeting nature of human experience. The speaker reflects on how everything in life is ephemeral, including beauty, youth, and even memory itself. The poem explores the tension between the desire for permanence and the inevitability of loss and decay.
By Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe · First published 1823 · Genre: Lyric Poetry, Romanticism, Ballad · 221 words
First lines
IN the drizzling mist, with the snow high-pil'd, In the Winter night, in the forest wild, I heard the wolves with their ravenous howl, I heard the screaming note of the owl:
Wille wau wau wau!
Wille wo wo wo!
Wito hu!
What this Textopian page supports
Gipsy Song is listed on Textopian as a poem by Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe, dated 1823 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
- Date: 1823 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Lyric Poetry, Romanticism, Ballad, Gothic, Folklore
- Length: 221 words
- Structure: 1 section, 16 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Gipsy Song by Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Gipsy Song?
- How does this poem by Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Lyric Poetry first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Songs by Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
- Bulbuls Song by Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
- Sound Sweet Song by Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
- Night Song by Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
- Flower Salute by Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
- To Luna by Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
Genres
- Lyric Poetry — The work employs a musical quality and emotional expression typical of lyric poetry.
- Romanticism — Themes of nature, the supernatural, and individual emotion align with Romantic ideals.
- Ballad — The narrative style and storytelling elements resemble traditional ballads.
- Gothic — The presence of supernatural elements and dark themes contributes to a Gothic atmosphere.
Tags
Romanticism · Poetry · German Literature · 18th Century · Folklore · Music · Love · Nature · Imagination · Fantasy · Symbolism · Mythology