From 1745 he studied theology in Jena and Leipzig. After breaking off his studies he became a house teacher to the two sons of the mayor Johann Christian Weiss in Langensalza in the years 1748 - 1750. Besides his teaching-activity Klopstock´s affinity was always directed towards poetry.

Out of love for his cousin Fanny who did not answer his prayers, Klopstock wrote the famous Odes to Fanny. In 1748 he continued his work on "Messias" which represents one of his mainworks and constituates Klopstocks justified fame as a poet and precursor of the German classical period. He died in Hamburg in 1803.