Johann Nikolaus Götz
Johann Nikolaus Götz (1721-1781) was a German poet and pastor whose literary journey began against the backdrop of a family legacy of Lutheran pastors. Raised in a traditional environment and educated in orthodox Lutheran schools, he ventured to the University of Halle in 1739, where he encountered new ideas and developed a passion for poetry. Götz gained recognition for his translations of ancient Greek poet Anacreon, which not only showcased his talent but also influenced his own poetic expression.
After leaving university in 1742, he took on a tutoring role for the affluent Kalkreuter family but soon returned to his hometown of Worms. His love for his roots was reflected in his poem "Bey Erblickung seiner Vaterstadt." Götz continued his career as a private pastor and published his first poetry collection in 1745, followed by a refined edition of Anacreon's translations in 1747. Throughout the 1750s and 1760s, he roamed Germany, publishing various collections, though his popularity waned by the mid-1770s as literary tastes shifted. In 1778, Götz expressed his disillusionment with poetry, ultimately passing away in 1781 after a stroke. His life and works reflect the struggles of a poet navigating personal and professional upheaval in a changing literary landscape.
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Johann Nikolaus Götz
Writer
- Born: July 9, 1721
- Birthplace: Worms, Germany
- Died: November 4, 1781
- Place of death: Winterburg, Germany
Biography
Johann Nikolaus Götz was born in Germany in 1721. On his father’s side was a legacy of Lutheran pastors that went back nine generations. After attending orthodox Lutheran schools as a child, Götz was accepted into the University of Halle in 1739. The University of Halle offered Götz a new perspective on life, one very different than that presented by his orthodox upbringing. At the university, Götz took an interest in poetry, which he studied and translated. While in school, Gotz’s translation of the work of ancient Greek scholar Anacreon (c. 571 b.c.e.-c. 490 b.c.e.) earned him the attention of his peers and other literary intellectuals. It is believed that learned much about writing his own poetry from his translation work.
In 1742 Götz left the university to pursue other interests. He took a position as a tutor and pastor to the wealthy Kalkreuter family. The position was located in the northern region and the cold climate did not suit Götz. It wasn’t long before he returned to his hometown of Worms. Götz’s poem “Bey Erblickung seiner Vaterstadt” (at the sight of his hometown), tells the story of his travels and of the illness he suffered while returning home. Götz only remained at home for a few months.
In 1744 he was hired as a private pastor to a noblewoman, and two years later he traveled with her grandchildren to a school in France. Before leaving for France, Götz was able to publish his first collection of poetry Versuch eines Wormsers in Gedichten in 1745. In 1746, Götz’s translation of Anacreon’s work found publication. Unfortunately, the poems were poorly published, and Götz was compelled to correct and revise the book. He resubmitted it for publication in 1747.
In 1750 Götz left France and returned to his native Germany. He traveled from town to town, taking up positions as a pastor. In 1752 he married Christina Hautt. Götz continued to live as a nomad, and he published collections of poetry though the 1750’s and 1760’s. By the mid-1770’s, it seemed that Götz’s once highly praised poetry was beginning to lose its audience. Readers of the time were more interested in the new styles of poetry springing forth in Germany at the time. During these years, Götz’s health also contributed to problems. In 1778, Götz is said to have written to friends telling them that he had given up on writing poetry. He died a few years later in 1781 after suffering a stroke.