Realität der Tragödie – Irrealität des Dramas. Eine Interpretation von J.W. Goethes Iphigenie auf Tauris als Beleg für fiktive dramatische Geschehnisse
The Reality of the Tragedy – The Unreality of the Drama. An Interpretation of Iphigenia auf Tauris by J.W. Goethe as Proof for Fictional Dramatic Events

Summary/Abstract: The following contribution discusses arguments for considering the tragedies of J.W. Goethe and Euripides as evidence of fictional events. It is argued from the point of view of analytic literary theory that ‘mythological writings’ may be used to classify both texts as such. It is maintained, that the expression ‘mythological writing’ applies to Iphigenie auf Tauris and Iphigenia in Tauris with the same meaning, if it can be argued that mythical events act as a common object referred to by the two texts. The assumption is substantiated by using as reference for ‘myth’ certain non-existent events. In the article there is an explicit delimitation of the validity context of the thesis from two relevant contexts for the use of ‘myth’ where such a designation fails to apply. The background to the discussion is based on considerations of analytical literary theory, according to which (existent) literary works on (non-existent) literary worlds can be semiotically interpreted not only as reference-less, but also semantically as (in particular conditions) referential.

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