Hölderlin's Hymns "Germania" and "the Rhine"

William McNeill is Professor of Philosophy at DePaul University.Julia A. Ireland is an Assistant Professor at Whitman College. She has translated (with William McNeill) Hölderlin's Hymn "The Ister" (IUP, 1996).

"[This translation], including a clear and concise introduction and useful glossaries, attains both accuracy and clarity, rarely faltering in its choice of words."—Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews"Translated with skill and precision, these lectures . . . not only present the most penetrating analysis of two of Hölderlin's most significant hymns but also constitute Heidegger's most illuminating and fully argued encounter with Hölderlin. . . . Recommended."—Choice"The translators have clearly mastered Heidegger's own way of reading and interpreting these Hölderlin texts. They convey an intimate knowledge of Heidegger's German and its deepest meanings without sacrificing the idiosyncratic character of Heidegger's prose style. What emerges is an English-language Heidegger for our times."—Charles Bambach, University of Texas - Dallas"The translation of Heidegger's first public engagement with Hölderlin represents a significant event in Heidegger studies. These lectures are also extremely important for assessing Heidegger's political commitments during the period, the crucial years of his involvement with National Socialism and the Nazi party, and his understanding of the poet's role in bringing to articulation what he understands as the destiny of a people."—Christopher Fynsk, University of Aberdeen

• Translators' ForewordPreliminary RemarkIntroduction1. Outline of the Beginning, Manner of Procedure, and Approach of the Lecture CoursePart One"Germania"Chapter OnePreliminary Reflections: Poetry and Language2. Provisional Path of Approach to the Poem as a Piece of Text3. Entering the Domain in which Poetry Unfolds its Power4. Concerning the Essence of Poetry5. The Question Concerning the 'We' in the Turbulence of the Dialogue6. Determining the 'We' from out of the Horizon of the Question of Time7. The Linguistic Character of PoetryChapter TwoThe Fundamental Attunement of Poetizing and the Historicality of Dasein8. Unfolding the Fundamental Attunement9. Historical Time and Fundamental Attunement10. The Locale of Dasein Founded in "Germania" within the Horizon of the Heraclitean Thought11. Transitional Overview and Summary: Revisiting the Domains Opened Up Thus Far as a Way of Determining More Precisely the Intent of the Lecture CoursePart Two"The Rhine"Transitional RemarkThe Question Concerning What is 'Innermost' in a Poetic Work as a Question of the Opening Up and Founding of Beyng in the Each Time New Prevailing of its Fundamental AttunementChapter OneThe Demigods as Mediating Middle between Gods and Humans. The Fundamental Attunement of the Poem. The Beyng of the Demigods and the Calling of the Poet12. Thinking the Essence of the Demigods in the Founding Projection of the Poet13. Strophe I. The Point of Departure for the Telling, and the Composure through which it is Experienced. The Apprehending of a Destiny14. Strophes II and III. The River Rhine as Destiny. Hearing its Origin and Assuming its VocationChapter TwoA More Incisive Review. Poetizing and Historical Dasein15. The Task of the Lecture Course: Entering the Domain in Which Poetry Unfolds its Power, and the Opening Up of its Actuality16. The Fundamental Approach in which our Interpretation Moves, Taking "Germania" as our Point of Departure17. The Interpretation in Detail. The River Rhine as Demigod18. Interim Reflection on the Metaphysics of PoetizingChapter ThreeThat which has Purely Sprung Forth as Strife in the Middle of Beyng19. Strophe IV. The Enigma of what has Purely Sprung Forth and the Origin of Poetizing20. Strophes V to IX. Unfolding the Essence of what has Purely Sprung Forth in the Conflict between Springing Forth and Having Sprung-Forth21. Strophes X Through XIII. Thinking the Beyng of the Demigods Starting From the Gods and From Humans22. Strophe XIV. Retaining the Mystery. The Thinking of the Poet Grounded in the Poetizing of the Thinker23. Strophe XV. The Poet as the Other24. The Metaphysical Locale of Hölderlin's PoetizingEditor's EpilogueTranslators' NotesGlossaryEnglish—German German—English