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Samuel Gotthold LangeGerman poet, pastor, founder of the society
Date of Birth: 22.03.1711
Country:  Germany |
Content:
Samuel Gotthold Lange
Early Life and EducationSamuel Gotthold Lange was born in Laublingen, Germany, in 1711. He studied theology at the University of Halle and later became a Lutheran pastor.
Literary Career
Lange was a poet and a strong advocate for the anti-Gottschedian movement in German literature. He rejected the German rhyme scheme and promoted the use of classical poetic meters. In collaboration with his friend Pyra, he published a collection of poems entitled "Thyrsis' und Damous freundschaftliche Lieder" (1745).
Conflict with Lessing
Lange's most famous work was his translation of Horace's "Odes" into classical meters (1752). This translation drew the ire of renowned critic Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, who attacked it in his "Vademecum."
Historical Significance
Despite the controversy surrounding his translation, Lange's work played a pivotal role in the development of German literature in the 18th century. His writings shed light on the clash between traditional and classical influences in the period, and his collection of letters, "Sammlung gelehrter und freundschaftlicher Briefe" (1769-70), provides valuable insights into the intellectual climate of the time.
