31046 - German Literature 1

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course students should know the general outline of literary history. They should be able to read, understand and translate texts from German into Italian and they should also be acquainted with the methods and analytical tools they need to interpret the works of the main authors, contextualising them within their cultural and historical period.

Course contents

Vergegenkunft? A journey through twentieth- and twenty-first-century German-language literature

There are words that, like mysterious objects, can arouse wonder and curiosity, especially when coined to convey an unusual, paradoxical, or counter-intuitive way of thinking. This appears to be the case with the term Vergegenkunft, brought to prominence by Günter Grass in 1980 to denote a distinctive conception of time and History. The term arises from the fusion of Vergangenheit (past), Gegenwart (present), and Zukunft (future), and refers to the interweaving of these three temporal dimensions within a «fourth dimension» which, according to Grass, is made possible by literature.

Why did Grass feel the need to resort to this particular term? How is it connected to the experiences of his own time? Was it an isolated choice? Does it have implications for the study of literary history? Accompanied by his voice, we are invited to embark on an exploration of twentieth-century German-language literature, using the notion of Vergegenkunft as a «lens» to examine some of the most significant developments and turning points in the literary history of the period under consideration. Drawing on close readings from the primary sources, we will reflect on what the adjective «contemporary» can possibly signify when applied to literature. We will also consider concepts and expressions akin to Vergegenkunft – such as Christa Wolf’s notion of Erinnerte Zukunft and Reinhart Koselleck’s Vergangene Zukunft – which have shaped literary debates throughout the long twentieth century in search for a fluid conception of temporality.

Readings/Bibliography

Primary texts, recommended editions

Please see also below ('Assessment methods')

 

• Joseph Roth, Hiob. Roman eines einfachen Mannes. Textausgabe mit Kommentar und Materialien, hrsg. von Wolfgang Pütz, Stuttgart, Reclam, 2013; It. transl. by Laura Terreni, Giobbe. Romanzo di un uomo semplice, Milano, Adelphi, 1992 (or later editions) or It. transl. by Nicoletta Giacon, Giobbe. Romanzo di un uomo semplice, Milano, Garzanti, 2019 (or later editions) or It. transl. by Madeira Giacci, Giobbe. Romanzo di un uomo semplice, Roma, Newton Compton, 2021

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

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

• Friedrich Dürrenmatt, Der Prozess um des Esels Schatten. Griechische Stücke. Neufassungen 1980, Zürich, Diogenes, 1985; It. transl. by Italo Alighiero Chiusano, «Il processo per l’ombra dell’asino», in F. Dürrenmatt, Radiodrammi, Torino, Einaudi, 1981, p. 3-47

• Thomas Bernhard, Heldenplatz. Mit einem Kommentar von Martin Huber, Berlin, Suhrkamp, 2012; It. transl. by Alice Gardoncini, Piazza degli eroi, in Thomas Bernhard, Teatro, vol. VI, Torino, Einaudi, 2021, p. 175-272 or It. transl. by Rolando Zorzi, Piazza degli eroi, Milano, Garzanti, 1992

• Judith Schalansky, Verzeichnis einiger Verluste, Berlin, Suhrkamp, 2018; It. transl. by Flavia Pantanella, Inventario di alcune cose perdute, Milano, Nottetempo, 2020

• Günter Grass, Figurenstehen. Eine Legende, Göttingen, Steidl, 2022; It. transl. by Nicoletta Giacon, Statue viventi. Una leggenda, con i disegni dell'autore, Milano, La nave di Teseo, 2024

 

[These lists are open and in progress]

 

Critical tools

• Elena Agazzi e Raul Calzoni, «Nel laboratorio di Günter Grass», in Cultura tedesca 66 (2023), «Günter Grass», a cura di Elena Agazzi e Raul Calzoni, p. 12-25

• Lucia Mor, Introduzione alla letteratura tedesca, Brescia, Scholé, 2020
  

 

During the course, interpretative essays on individual works and relevant textbook chapters, available in the library, will be mentioned and discussed. For a historical and literary overview of the time under consideration:

• Chiara M. Buglioni, Marco Castellari, Alessandra Goggio, Moira Paleari, Letteratura tedesca. Epoche, generi, intersezioni, vol. 2: Dal primo dopoguerra al nuovo millennio, Firenze, Le Monnier, 2019 (parts to be announced)
  
  
  

Teaching methods

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

Course contents and exam mode of completion are the same for students who do not attend lessons. Students who are partially attending, non-attending, or participating in the Erasmus program or othe programs. are kindly requested to make contact in order to arrange an appointment by writing to the following address: guglielmo.gabbiadini@unibo.it

Assessment methods

Oral exam in Italian (it may also be taken in German upon request) – questions aimed at assessing:

• the acquisition of the contents presented in class. Students taking the 6-credit exam (13298) are not required to prepare the section on 21st- century literature

• the knowledge of at least two of the primary texts that each student is expected to read in full length in German (see above). The exam will begin with these readings as a free subject of discussion (‘Einsprechthema’). Students taking the 6-credit exam are expected to read in full length in German at least one of the primary texts listed above

• the development of critical thinking skills

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

Teaching tools

Multimedia.

 

Students with SLDs or temporary or permanent disabilities: we suggest that you contact the relevant university office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en) and your teacher immediately to work together to find the most effective strategies for attending classes and/or preparing for exams. Any requests for exam accommodations must be made at least 15 days before the date of the exam, by sending an email to the teacher and copying (Cc) the email address disabilita@unibo.it (in case of disability) or dsa@unibo.it (for students with Specific Learning Difficulties).

Office hours

See the website of Guglielmo Gabbiadini