Eventhough, the first acquaintance of the west with eastern lherature and
culture was mixed with doubt and hesitations, the negative prej udgements of the west (gradually) faded away, particularly during the Age of Enlightenment, with the discovery of the richness of eastern literature. In the meantime, the Romantic Period of the east turned as a source of inspiration for scholars and literary figures of the west. Herder was one of the pioneers of the intellectual movement inclined to the culture and literature of the east in German Literature. His ideas had a profound impact
on Goethe's beliefs regarding the East. At the beginning the East was an escape for Goethe from the turbulant West. His acquaintance with Hafiz's Anthology laid the ground for a mystic and fanciful journey into the east.
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