Karl Friedrich Elze (22 May 1821, Dessau – 21 January 1889, Halle) was a German scholar and Shakespearean critic.
[1] He studied (1839–1843) classical philology, and modern, but especially English, literature at the University of Leipzig where he obtained his PhD.
[1] He was a master for a time in the gymnasium (preparatory school) at Dessau, and in 1875 was appointed extraordinary, and in 1876 ordinary, professor of English philology at the University of Halle.
[2] The course catalogue for the winter 1875/76 has a four-hour lecture on the history of English literature one hour each day on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
[2] He was politically active as a member of the Dessau-ischen for many years and presented a programmatic script to the Constitution of the Duchy of 1848 and promoted the idea that "Freedom of religion should be granted without Government controls".