Im Nebel
Seltsam, im Nebel zu wandern!
Einsam ist jeder Busch und Stein,
Kein Baum sieht den andern,
jeder ist allein.
Voll von Freunden war mir die Welt,
Als noch mein Leben licht war;
Nun, da der Nebel fällt,
ist keiner mehr sichtbar.
Wahrlich, keiner ist weise,
Der nicht das Dunkel kennt,
Das unentrinnbar und leise
Von allen ihn trennt.
Seltsam, im Nebel zu wandern!
Leben ist Einsamsein.
Kein Mensch kennt den andern,
Jeder ist allein.
(November 1905)
Fragen zum Text:
Strophe 1:
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Who is wandering?
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Why the personification: "kein Baum sieht den andern" ?
Strophe 2:
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Who is "mir"?
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What contrasts are drawn here: Freunde; Licht/Nebel; "keiner mehr sichtbar"
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Which condition do you think is more positive: Licht or Nebel?
Strophe 3:
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How does the speaker view "Dunkel", that is, the absence of "Licht"?
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What are 2 unavoidable ("unentrinnbar") consequences of "Dunkel"?
Strophe 4:
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What is the essential nature of Life/Leben?
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The speaker seems to accept loneliness as the cost of wisdom.
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What is your reaction to this "trade-off"?
Personal Questions:
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Have you ever felt the need or desire
to be alone in nature? Why?
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Do you have friends whom you would consider
“fairweather” friends (“voll von Freunden war mir die Welt, als noch mein
Leben licht war”)? What about when times are more difficult (“Nun, da der
Nebel fällt, ist keiner mehr sichtbar”)? Do you feel you have friends
who would stick by you? Has a friendship ever been tested in this way?
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The author seems to identify “Nebel” and “Dunkel”
with loss of friends, but also as a means to gain knowledge and insights
(“Wahrlich, keiner ist weise, der nicht das Dunkel kennt”). Do you think
the dichotomy is necessary? Have you ever felt this way?
-
What would you ask of or say to the author
if you could discuss this poem with him?
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There are several readings/musical adaptations
available. Which one do you like the best? Which one seems
to be the most fitting considering the "tone" of the poem?
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