This is the first page of the original manuscript of Benjamin's work on The Origin of German Tragic Drama which he wrote in order to receive his venia legendi in German universities (habilitation). In this work Benjamin deals with the origins of German tragic drama in the Baroque era by analyzing the texts in a very radical manner. Even before the official reviewing process Benjamin was told that his analysis was regarded too modern and not sufficiently academic. He therefore decided to withdraw his thesis, a step that brought his academic career to a halt. The text was nevertheless published as a book in 1928.

What was then regarded to be too modern still serves as a source for further research: even today, numerous literary scholars refer to Benjamin's work and praise him for his extraordinary way of thinking.