Der Erlkönig

What it is

"Erlkönig" is a poem by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, originally written for a 1782 Singspiel. It tells of a father riding at night with his son, who claims to see and hear a supernatural being, the Erlking.

Why it matters

Called Goethe's most famous ballad, it shows how he transformed folk material into dramatic verse: the story derives from a traditional Danish ballad, reaching Goethe through Johann Gottfried Herder's German translation. The poem later inspired many composers, most famously Franz Schubert, whose musical setting is one of his best-known works.

Look closer

• Why does the father refuse to believe what the son says he sees and hears?
• How does Goethe build tension and fear using only dialogue?
• What does the poem's borrowing from folklore tell us about how writers reuse old stories?