Stefan George (1868-1933) is considered one of the most influential German-speaking poets of the 20th century. He gained fame not only through his poems but also through his pronounced desire for staging. He created the George Circle, a group of like-minded men who devotedly followed the charismatic poet and spread his ideas. As a result, George's persona remains controversial even today.

As in his famous collection 'The Year of the Soul,' George in 'The Carpet of Life' (1899) depicts images of life and the soul. However, the poet assumes the role of a higher authority that views the whole from a bird's-eye perspective. Feelings and experiences are no longer in the foreground; instead, the interpretation of life takes center stage. The poems are characterized by a wide range of moods and differ from most of George's other works through their explicit expression of a hopeful moment.