this symphony has four movements. the first movement is in sonata form. the second and third movements come the other way round from the usual order: the second movement is the scherzo and the third movement is the slow movement. it is a theme and variations. the last movement sets the words of a poem by friedrich schiller, a famous poet who had only recently died. the poem was called "ode an die freude" (in english: "ode to joy"). the poem has a strong message to all mankind: it is about living in peace and harmony together. it was written at the time of the french revolution when these ideas were becoming very important in europe.