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Hölderlin's works develop vast intellectual constructions in a poetic language of striking rhythmical power, while remaining anxiously concerned with the conditions of lyric utterance. Although his work responded to the literary and philosophically currents as well as the revolutionary politics and Philhellenism of his time, it proved untimely. Yet the same severe features that alienated contemporaries would lead such 20th-century poets as George, Rilke, and Celan to celebrate and emulate Hölderlin. We will examine how Hölderlin's early contributions to post-Kantian idealism paved the way for his poetic project, as well as his odes and elegies, and some of the poetological writings. The late hymns will be discussed in detail against the backdrop of Hölderlin's engagement with ancient tragedy and his Empedocles project. Since Hölderlin's works have elicited literary criticism of the highest order as well as influential reflections on the aims and challenges of literary interpretation, our readings of Hölderlin will proceed in dialogue with such critical responses.