Karl August Schlegel Paintings

Karl Wilhelm Friedrich (after 1812: von) Schlegel, generally known as Friedrich Schlegel, was a German poet, critic, and scholar who, with his brother August Wilhelm Schlegel, was a key figure of the Jena Romanticism movement. Friedrich Schlegel was born on March 10, 1767, in Hanover, where his father was a Lutheran pastor. He was the younger brother of August Wilhelm Schlegel, who also became a notable literary figure. Friedrich initially studied law at the University of Göttingen but quickly developed an interest in literature, philosophy, and the classics.

Schlegel's early work focused on the development of his literary theory and included essays and dialogue that explored the nature of poetry and the role of the poet. He is credited with coining the term 'romantic' to describe a type of literature that stands in contrast to the classical forms, emphasizing individuality, imagination, and emotion. In 1797, he published the influential work 'Lucinde', a novel that celebrated love and art as central to human experience. Furthermore, Schlegel's 'Athenaeum', a literary journal he founded with his brother August Wilhelm and his friends, was instrumental in shaping the Romantic movement.

In 1798, Schlegel moved to Jena, where he became a central figure in the Early Romantic group that included other prominent intellectuals such as his brother August Wilhelm, the philosopher Friedrich Wilhelm Joseph Schelling, and the poet Novalis. During this time, he continued to publish critical works and developed his philosophy of irony, which would become a hallmark of Romantic criticism. Schlegel's ideas were influential in the development of German idealism and had a lasting impact on the Romantic movement throughout Europe.

In his later years, Schlegel turned his attention to the study of ancient languages and history. He became a professor at the University of Jena and later at the University of Cologne. He was also a member of the Austrian diplomatic service and was ennobled, receiving the 'von' in his name. Schlegel continued to write on a wide range of subjects from comparative literature to philosophy until his death on January 12, 1845, in Dresden. His legacy includes not only his contributions to the Romantic movement but also his pioneering work in comparative linguistics and his translations of Shakespeare into German, which were among the first to introduce the English playwright to a German audience.