Motte studied briefly at Halle before following in his father's footsteps and entering the army. In 1794, he took part in the Rhine campaign, and after having left the army for a literary career, re-entered in 1813 to take part in the Napoleonic campaigns. His literary career began with the publication of his first work, Dramatische Spiele vom Pellegrin in 1804. An adherent of the romantic school, his next works, Romanten vom Tal Ronceval (1805) and Historie vom edlen Ritter Galmy (1806) would emphasize the age of chivalry. Motte was also the first to produce a dramatization of the Niebelungen, Sigurd der Schlangentoter, ein Heldenspiel (1808). Motte reached the height of popularity between 1810 and 1815, when he published such works as Undine (1811), Sintram (1815) and Die Fahrten Thiodolfs des Islanders (1815). He was awarded a pension by Frederick William IV of Prussia and lived out his final days in comfort after the decline of his literary popularity. |
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