Contemporary with Klopstock are many noted writers, who distinguished
themselves in what is known as the classic period of German
literature. This begins with Goethe's return from Italy, when he, with
Schiller's aid, formed a classical school of literature in Germany.

While Schiller has given us the immortal epic drama "William Tell,"
Goethe produced the idyllic epic "Hermann und Dorothea," the
dramatical epic "Faust," and an inimitable version of the animal epic
"Reinecke Fuchs."

Wieland also was a prolific writer in many fields; inspired by the
Arabian Nights, Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream, and Huon de
Bordeaux, [27] he composed an allegorical epic entitled "Oberon,"
wherein "picture after picture is unfolded to his readers," and which
has since served as a theme for musicians and painters.

Since Goethe's day Wagner has made the greatest and most picturesque
use of the old German epic material, for the themes of nearly all his
operas are drawn from this source.[28]

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 24: See the author's "Legends of the Rhine."]

[Footnote 25: See the author's "Legends of the Middle Ages."]

[Footnote 26: Detailed accounts of "Gudrun" and several other of these
subordinate epics can be found in the author's "Legends of the Middle
Ages."]