关键词: 歌德, 世界文学, 人道, 《论艺术与古代文化》

Abstract: Around Goethe and his “Weltliteratur” concept, this article attempts to make a historical textual research and conceptual analysis. Wieland und Schlözer had written or used Weltliteratur before Goethe, but the three “Weltliteraturs” are quite different in their connotation. From the ideological point of view, harmony and universality are the core concepts of Goethe's “Weltliteratur”, reflecting a new way of thinking that litteratures cannot engage in literary creation in isolation, but must participate in cross-cultural communication. On the practical level, the world literature is the focus of Goethe's literary activities in his late years. As he proposed Weltliteratur, Goethe was mainly thinking about the acceptance of German literature in France. Through newspapers and other media, Goethe tried to find a practical way to promote Weltliteratur.

Key words: Goethe, Weltliteratur, humanity, über Kunst und Altertum