Goethe's Idea of the Demonic

Based on Goethe's autobiography Poetry and Truth and Eckermann's Conversations with Goethe as major texts of research,and by reference to the history of European Idea,the writer tries to interpret Goethe's opinion of the demonic by comparative method,to reveal his sublation of ancient Greek demonology and his influence on modern irrationalism. Goethe's idea of the demonic is an important integrant of his theory of genius,the demonic in his mind means intense elan vital,which leads to creation or self-destruction,and he looks upon demonic personage as latent genius.