Letters to a Young Poet Themes

In Letters to a Young Poet, the German poet Rainer Maria Rilke advises a younger writer, Franz Xaver Kappus, to lead a solitary, disciplined life. Instead of fearing loneliness and trying to avoid it, Rilke suggests that solitude is something to be embraced. It’s only natural for people to shy away from solitude by seeking out the company of others and rushing into romantic relationships. But there’s a certain richness to be found…

Rilke’s letters to Kappus center around his ideas about art and poetry, but the advice he gives is also applicable to life in a broader sense. He argues that moving through the world with an artistic sensibility can add interest and wonder to everyday life, turning it into something special and worthy of attention. Rilke urges Kappus to appreciate “the little things that hardly anyone sees,” which won’t just enhance his poetry but also…

Letters to a Young Poet provides insight into Rilke’s mentorship of younger artists. Although he was only 27 when he began corresponding with 19-year-old Franz Kappus, it’s clear that he took his role as a more experienced poet quite seriously—he did, after all, send ten letters to Kappus, many of which were lengthy and philosophically dense. Furthermore, he genuinely thought about what would help the young poet develop as both a writer and…