Last Updated on May 5, 2015, by eNotes Editorial. Word Count: 83

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, as a poet, dramatist, and novelist, made a major contribution to world literature. His themes of individuality and social concerns reflect a profound understanding of human interrelationships. With his lyric poetry, his novels and dramas, and his vast correspondence with his contemporaries, Goethe influenced writers and thinkers of his own time and helped shape the literary movements of the nineteenth century. Goethe is widely considered to be one of the most versatile and prolific figures in all world literature.