Thesis--Christian-Albrechts-Universität. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 180-209).

Zugl.: Braunschweig, Techn. Univ., Diss., 2008

Inaug.-Diss. - Köln Universität. / Vita. Photocopy of transcript. Bibliography: p. 378-380. Also issued in print.

Zugl.: Göttingen, Univ., Diss., 2008

Zugl.: Roskilde, Univ., Habil.-Schr., 2008

Thesis--Christian-Albrechts-Universität. / Bibliography: p. 180-209.

"Inaugural Dissertation"--Bern. / "Literatur": verso of the 4th prelim. leaf.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 1977. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 202-207).

Thesis (M.A.)--Memorial University of Newfoundland, 2004. / Bibliography: leaves 70-76.

In this essay I show how Wozu Dichter? (1946) and the writings of Rilke can be read as a change in Heidegger’s relationship and view on poetry. Through a close reading of the text I trace the change from a society directed political and critical view on poetry, to a view which places language itself at heart. These different viewpoints correspond respectively to Heidegger’s readings and interpretations of Hölderlins poetry throughout the 30s to early 40s, and the later more pure language philosophical works found in Unterwegs zur Sprache. Hence, I argue that Wozu Dichter? can be read as a Bridge between these two (often considered separate) periods in Heidegger’s thinking. Furthermore I argue that the work with Rilkes poetry directly influenced Heidegger’s approach in Unterwegs zur Sprache, and marks a tonal change in the in his works. To illustrate this, I draw a parallel between the statement that poetry is “more saying”, which is developed in Wozu Dichter? and the claim in Die Sprache (1950) that poetry is “pure saying”. I also argue that Rilke’s idea of the “more saying” poetry as creation of “a safe-being”, which Heidegger talks about in terms of a district (Bezirk) and house of being, correlates to the view in Die Sprache of language as a domestic context. This view does not appear in the earlier texts about Hölderlin, such as Hölderlin und das Wesen der Dichtung. Hence it represents a new way of viewing the nature of language, not as a thing we have to examine through the nature of humanity, but instead as a locality we have to learn to live in and through.