Joseph von Eichendorff's Libertas und ihr Freier

Abstract

<p>This thesis examines Libertas und ihr Freier, a political satire in the form of an allegorical fairy-tale, in the context of Eichendorff's other works, both poetic and polemic, and of his political views before, during and after the German Revolution of 1848-49. The satire demonstrates quite clearly the quality of the poet's mind at the time of its composition, and reveals a basic dualism within the poet, a mixture of Romanticism and literary Realism.</p>