Final answer:
Friedrich Schiller wrote the poem “Ode to Joy”, which forms the basis for the last movement of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, a pivotal work of the Romantic era.
Step-by-step explanation:
The German poet who wrote the poem that forms the basis for the last movement of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony was Friedrich Schiller. This poem, titled “Ode to Joy” (An die Freude in German), embodies the Romantic era's emphasis on strong emotion and the unity of all people, which aligns with the symphony's themes of joy and fellowship.
Ludwig van Beethoven, a composer whose later works are associated with the Romantic period, selected this poem to finalize his symphony with a grand choral movement.