ELOPSTOCK, FRIEDRICH GOTTLIEB, a German poet, was b. July 2, 1724, at Quedlin burg, and went to Jena in 1745 to study theology'. He had already formed the resolution to write a great epic poem, and thought of Henry the fowler as a gccd subject for one; and at Jena lie composed the first cantos of his Messiah. In 1746 lie passed to Leipsic, and there became acquainted with the editors of the Bremisehe Beitrage, in which the first three cantos of the Messiah appeared in 1748. They attracted great attention: the author was pronounced a religious poet of the highest order. He was now invited to Copenhagen, upon the recommendation of the minister Bernstorff, and introduced to the king whom lie accompanied on his travels. In 1771 Klopstock settled in Hamburg, with a sinecure appointment and a pension from the Danish government, and subse quently received an honorary title and a pension from the markgraf, afterwards grand duke of Baden. In 1773 the last five cantos of his were published at Halle. He died Mar. 14, 1803. Klopstock's name has (or rather perhaps had) a very high place in German literature. Whatever may be thought of the intrinsic value of his poetry, it
cannot be denied exercised a very important and beneficial influence on the national taste. The greatest of his successors, Goethe, acknowledged this, though he also expressed the opinion, that Klopstock had become rather obsolete, or at least that his conception of poetry had become so. When Klopstock first began to write, the lit erature and social life of Germany were penetrated by French influences. A cold, cor rect, unimaginative spirit tyrannized over the thought and habits of the peel*. Klop stock broke loose at once from this shallow despotism, and breathed the air of freedom into German poetry. Odes, tragedies—in which he introduces Hermann (q.v.) 11,e Cheruscian as it national hero—rind biblical dramas. with sonic hymns, which still find a place in collections, constitute the remainder of Klopstock's poetry. Ilis works were collected and published in 12 vols. (Leip. 1760-1817), in 18 vols. (1823-29), in 9 vols. (1839). The Messiah has been translated both into verse and prose in English.