When I was Still a Youthful Wight
The poem explores the speaker's nostalgia for their youth and the passing of time. It describes the physical changes that occur with age, such as graying hair and wrinkles, but also touches on the emotional and psychological effects of growing older. The speaker reflects on how they used to be carefree and full of life, but now feel worn down by experience and responsibility.
By Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe · First published 1796 · Genre: Lyric Poetry, Romanticism, Elegy · 109 words
First lines
WHEN I was still a youthful wight,
So full of enjoyment and merry, The painters used to assert, in spite,
That my features were small -- yes, very; Yet then full many a beauteous child With true affection upon me smil'd.
Now as a greybeard I sit here in state,
What this Textopian page supports
When I was Still a Youthful Wight is listed on Textopian as an essay by Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe, dated 1796 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Essay
- Author: Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
- Date: 1796 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Lyric Poetry, Romanticism, Elegy, Nature Poetry, Philosophical Poetry
- Length: 109 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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Discussion starters
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Genres
- Lyric Poetry — The work expresses personal emotions and reflections, characteristic of lyric poetry.
- Romanticism — Themes of nostalgia and the beauty of youth align with Romantic ideals.
- Elegy — The poem reflects on the passage of time and loss of youth, typical of elegiac themes.
- Nature Poetry — Imagery and appreciation of beauty suggest elements of nature poetry.
Tags
Autobiographical · Coming-of-age · German Literature · Romanticism · Poetic Prose · Philosophical · Self-Discovery · Youthful Rebellion · Literary Experimentation · 18th Century · European Culture · Intellectual Journey