Erklingst

Erklingst is a term that appears in the collection of poems "Des Knaben Wunderhorn" by Clemens Brentano and Achim von Arnim, first published in 1805-1808. The word itself is not a standard German word and its meaning is a subject of interpretation and scholarly debate. It is most famously found in the poem titled "Des Knaben Wunderhorn," which gives its name to the collection.

Within the poem, "erklingst" is used in a context that suggests a sound or a call, often associated with nature or music. Some interpretations link it to the act of ringing, sounding, or echoing. Others suggest it could be a portmanteau or a neologism created by the poets to evoke a specific, perhaps mystical or archaic, auditory sensation. The precise etymology remains unclear, contributing to its enigmatic nature within the poem.

The ambiguity of "erklingst" is often seen as a deliberate choice by the Romantic poets, adding to the dreamlike and evocative atmosphere of their work. It invites the reader to engage with the text on a more imaginative level, allowing for personal interpretation of the sound it represents. Despite its obscure origin, the word has become a notable feature of "Des Knaben Wunderhorn" and is frequently discussed in literary analyses of the collection.