31163 - German Literature 2

Learning outcomes

Upon the successful completion of the course, students will have acquired a satisfactory knowledge of general issues and individual aspects concerning literary history. They will be able to understand and translate texts from the original. They will also have acquired the basic theoretical knowledge necessary for their critical interpretation, being able to comment on texts and apply specific methodologies for the analysis of literary texts.

Course contents

‘Writers of reality.’ On Realism in German-Language Literature in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries

This course sets out to discuss the concept of Literary Realism as a distinctive feature of an era which, in the words of a contemporary, was able to «conjure up scenes of such intense emotional colouring that life itself can rarely offer». At the same time and more broadly, we will explore literary realism as a particular way of looking at things: an inclusive and meticulous gaze capable of creating surfaces that often conceal unfathomable depths. We will thus attempt to read texts from seemingly remote times, rich in revolutionary developments and innovations, such as the Biedermeier, the Vormärz and the Junges Deutschland. We will also try and zero in on a couple of resurfacing instances of literary realism in the twentieth century which were influenced by the avant-garde movements.

 

Readings/Bibliography

Literary Sources

Please see below ('Assessment methods')

 

• Heinrich Heine, Die Harzreise, herausgegeben und mit einem Nachwort versehen von Christian Liedtke, Hamburg, Hoffmann und Campe Verlag, 2024; Heinrich Heine, Die Harzreise / Il viaggio nello Harz, a cura di Maria Carolina Foi, Prefazione di Claudio Magris, con tedesco a fronte, Venezia, Marsilio, 1994 (or later editions)

• Georg Büchner, Lenz, a cura di Giorgio Dolfini, con testo a fronte, Milano, Adelphi, 1989 (or later editions)

• Annette von Droste-Hülshoff, Die Judenbuche. Ein Sittengemälde aus dem gebirgigten Westfalen, Textausgabe mit Kommentar und Materialien, herausgegeben von Yomb May, Stuttgart, Reclam 2021; Annette von Droste-Hülshoff, Il faggio degli ebrei. Un quadro dei costumi della Vestfalia collinare, a cura di Uta Treder, con testo a fronte, Venezia, Marsilio, 1998 (o edizioni successive)

• Franz Grillparzer, Der arme Spielmann / Il povero suonatore, a cura di Rita Svandrlik, con testo a fronte, Venezia, Marsilio, 1993 (or later editions)

• Adalbert Stifter, Brigitta, a cura di Matteo Galli, con testo a fronte, Venezia, Marsilio, 1991 (or later editions)

• Anna Seghers, Der Ausflug der toten Mädchen / La gita delle ragazze morte, a cura di Rita Calabrese, con testo a fronte, Venezia, Marsilio, 2010 (or later editions)

• Heinrich Böll, «Wanderer, kommst du nach Spa…», in Id., Wanderer, kommst du nach Spa… Erzählungen, München, dtv, 1967 (o successive), p. 45–56; trad. it. di Italo Alighiero Chiusano, «Viandante, se giungi a Spa…», in H. Böll, Racconti, a cura di Anna Ruchat, Milano, Mondadori, 2022, p. 195-203

 

Regarding literary history and method:

 

• Elena Agazzi, «Biedermeier, Vormärz e Junges Deutschland e gli sviluppi letterari del Realismo ottocentesco», in Storia della letteratura tedesca. Dal Tardo Illuminismo all’età delle Avanguardie, Torino, Einaudi, 2024, p. 237-323

• Alessandro Fambrini, L’età del realismo. La letteratura tedesca dell’Ottocento, seconda edizione, Roma, Carocci, 2014 (le parti verranno indicate all'inizio del corso)

• Renata Gambino, «Antropologia letteraria», in Michele Cometa, Dizionario degli studi culturali, a cura di Roberta Coglitore e Federica Mazzara, Roma, Meltemi, 2004, p. 72-78

 

 

Teaching methods

The course includes lectures and seminars. Students are encouraged to participate actively in the discussions.

Students with SLD or temporary or permanent disabilities: it is suggested that they get in touch with the relevant University office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en) and with the lecturer in order to seek together the most effective strategies for following the lessons and/or preparing for the examination.

Course contents and exam mode of completion are the same for students who do not follow lessons, are on Erasmus exchange etc. For mentoring service please contact the teacher (guglielmo.gabbiadini@unibo.it)

Assessment methods

Oral exam – questions aimed at assessing:

• the acquisition of the contents presented in class;
  
• the knowledge of at least two of the primary sources that each student is expected to read in full length in German (see above). The exam will begin with these as free subject of discussion (‘Einsprechthema’)
• the development of critical thinking skills.

Final grading on a 30-point scale (0-17=fail).

Teaching tools

Multimedia

Office hours

See the website of Guglielmo Gabbiadini