Steppenwolf Allusions & Cultural References

Literary and Philosophical References

• Friedrich Nietzsche: 19th-century German philosopher. (Preface 21, 34, 47, 71, 373)
• J. T. Hermes, Sophie's Journey from Memel to Saxony: An epistolary novel in six parts from the 18th century. (Preface 23, 86)
• Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: German writer from the 18th and 19th centuries. (Preface 23, 86, 87, 91-93, 95, 140, 144, 163-181, 208, 257, 344, 438, 441, 57
• Jean Paul: German Romantic writer. (Preface 23, 282)
• Novalis: German Romantic writer. (Preface 23, Preface 31, 29, 257, 282, 438
• Gotthold Ephraim Lessing: 18th-century German writer. (Preface 23)
• Friedrich Heinrich Jacobi: German philosopher known for coining the term "nihilism." (Preface 23)
• Georg Christoph Lichtenberg: 18th- century German scientist. (Preface 23)
• Fyodor Dostoievski: 19th-century Russian author. (Preface 23, 29)
• Adalbert Stifter: 19th-century Austrian writer who killed himself by slitting his throat with a razor. (1)
• René Descartes: French philosopher considered the Father of Modern Philosophy. (7)
• Blaise Pascal: French mathematician and scientist. (7)
• William Shakespeare, Hamlet (16)
• Faust: In German legend, a man who sells his soul to the Devil. (5, 59, 63)
• Mephistopheles/Mephisto: A demon in German legends. (58)
• Garden of Gethsemane: The place where Jesus was betrayed and arrested before he was crucified. (62)
• Don Quixote: The hero of a Spanish novel, who always went after impossible quests. (72)
• Dante Alighieri: Medieval Italian poet. (86)
• Friedrich von Matthisson: German Romantic poet. (164)
• Gottfried August Bürger: 18th-century German poet. (164, 179)
• Molly: The subject of Bürger's love poems. (164)
• Heinrich von Kleist: German Romantic poet. (169, 173)
• The Prodigal Son: A character in one of Jesus' parables in the New Testament. (255)
• Charles Baudelaire: 19th-century French poet. (257)
• Knut Hamsun: Nobel-Prize-winning Norwegian author. (373)
• Tristan: Character from the King Arthur legends. (373)
• Old Testament (454)
• Moses (454)
• Walt Whitman (454)
• Wotam: Norse God. (454)
• Plato (507)

Historical References

• Buddha: A guru from the 5th or 6th century B.C. (Preface 23, 58, 64, 66)
• Mahatma Gandhi: 20th-century Indian nationalist leader. (Preface 23)
• Attila: Conqueror from the 5th-century BC. (16)
• Giannozzo Manetti: 15th-century Italian politician and humanist. (17)
• Jesus Christ (86, 208)
• Alberto Einstein (87)
• Kaiser: The title of the emperor of the German, Austrian, and Austro-Hungarian Empire. (88, 513)
• Saint Stephen: A Christian martyr. (208)
• Francis of Assisi: Catholic saint. (208)
• Virgin Mary (208)
• King Solomon: king of ancient Israel. (216)
• Walther von der Vogelweider: 12th-century German poet. (216)
• Saint Christopher: Christian martyr. (438)
• Philip of Neri: Catholic saint. (438)

Art and Music References

• Michelangelo, "Night" (Preface 23)
• George Frideric Handel: Baroque composer. (Preface 23, 18, 454, 660, 664)
• Wilhelm Friedemann Bach: 18th-century German composer. (Preface 36)
• Max Reger, Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Mozart (Preface 36)
• Giotto, Mourning of Christ: (16)
• Borobudur: 9th-century Buddhist Temple in Indonesia. (16)
• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (17, 18, 21, 62, 86, 177, 344, 430, 507, 624-647, 657, 659-667, 675-683, 688, 689)
• Johann Sebastian Bach (21, 351, 360)
• Richard Wagner: 19th-century German composer. (58, 373, 635)
• Joseph Haydn: Classical Austrian composer. (86, 351, 360)
• Ludwig van Beethoven (109, 173, 354, 629)
• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, The Magic Flute (171, 173, 174, 352, 353)
• Franz Schubert: 19th-century Austrian composer. (177, 629)
• Johann Sebastian Bach, St. Matthew Passion: (352)
• "Valencia": Popular 1920s dance hall song (353)
• "Yearning": Popular 1920s dance hall song. (353, 494)
• Dieterich Buxtehude: Baroque composer. (360)
• Johann Pachelbel: German Baroque composer. (360)
• Franz Liszt: 19th-century Hungarian composer. (373)
• Ludwig Van Beethoven, Ninth Symphony: (373)
• Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: 19th-century Russian composer. (384)
• Mozart, Cassations: (442)
• Bach, The Well-tempered Clavier (442)
• Christoph Willibald Gluck: Classical opera composer. (507)