Prometheus

What it is

"Prometheus" is a poem by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, written between 1772 and 1774 and first published in 1789 (an unauthorised version appeared in 1785). In it, the mythic Prometheus addresses God, portrayed as Zeus, in angry defiance.

Why it matters

The poem is an important work of the German Sturm und Drang movement, which prized emotion, individuality and rebellion against authority. Its language echoes biblical passages, turned against belief in a caring God. It is often read as a pair with Goethe's poem "Ganymed," the two together showing opposite sides of the human condition: defiance and submission.

Look closer

• Why might a young writer choose to voice rebellion through an ancient myth rather than speaking directly?
• What does the poem's anger at the gods suggest about Goethe's attitude to authority at this stage of his life?
• How does the poem use religious language while rejecting religious ideas?