30652 - German Literature 2 (2nd cycle)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student will have acquired in-depth knowledge about various aspects and problems regarding literary history. The student will have a sound knowledge of the individual authors and works, and will be able to evaluate the literary quality of the works that have been studied, analyzing the texts according to specific critical methodologies.

Course contents

Novel and theory of the novel since the Middle Ages

The course will deal with the most important examples of german novels since the Middle Ages and analyze their narrative structures. Particular attention is paid to narrator speeches, which reflect as part of the novel on its form and structure and “narratability”

The following works are treated or at least mentioned in the course and are suitable as topics for "tesine". Not all of the following works can be treated in the necessary detail, but in the end a representative picture of the german novel traditions should have been created.

1. Wolfram von Eschenbach: Parzival
2. Hans Jakob Christoffel von Grimmelshausen: Der Abentheuerliche Simplicissimus Teutsch (Simplicius Simplicissimus)
3. Jean Paul Friedrich Richter: Hesperus oder 45 Hundsposttage; Flegeljahre
4. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: Wilhelm Meister
5. Ludwig Tieck: Franz Sternbalds Wanderungen
6. Karl Gutzkow: Wally, die Zweiflerin
7. Theodor Fontane: Effie Briest
8. Heinrich Mann: Der Untertan
9. Thomas Mann: DerZauberberg
10. Alfred Döblin: Berlin Alexanderplatz
11. Irmgard Keun: Gilgi eine von uns
12. Robert Musil: Der Mann ohne Eigenschaften
13. Hermann Broch: Der Tod des Vergil
14. Franz Werfel: Stern der Ungeborenen
15. Wolfgang Koeppen: Tauben im Gras
16. Heinrich Böll: Billard um halbzehn
17. Uwe Johnson: Mutmassungen über Jakob; Jahrestage
18. Jurek Becker: Jakob der Lügner
19. Irmtraud Morgner: Leben und Abenteuer der Trobadora Beatriz nach Zeugnissen ihrer Spielfrau Laura
20. Ulrike Draesner: Sieben Sprünge vom Rand der Welt

The course will be held in German. Each participant must eitherwrite a home assignment or present a seminar paper. 

The programme for non-attending students has to be arranged with the professor

Readings/Bibliography

 

1) SECONDARY LITERATURE

 

György Lukács: Die Theorie des Romans. Ein geschichtsphilosophischer Versuch über die Formen der großen Epik/ Teoria del romanzo. Saggio storico-filosofico sulle forme della grande epica, Milano 1962 (o la traduzione di 1981)

Alfred Döblin: An Romanautoren und ihre Kritiker. Berliner Programm 1913 (wird zu Beginn des Kurses unter den Materialien zu finden sein)

Further theoretical texts, such as on fiction and narrative theory, will be made available as materials during the course.

Additional literature will be provided during the course

2) PRIMARY TEXTS

tree of the following novels has to be prepared for the exam

1. Wolfram von Eschenbach: Parzival
2. Hans Jakob Christoffel von Grimmelshausen: Der Abentheuerliche Simplicissimus Teutsch (Simplicius Simplicissimus)
3. Jean Paul Friedrich Richter: Hesperus oder 45 Hundsposttage; Flegeljahre
4. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: Wilhelm Meister
5. Ludwig Tieck: Franz Sternbalds Wanderungen
6. Karl Gutzkow: Wally, die Zweiflerin
7. Theodor Fontane: Effie Briest
8. Heinrich Mann: Der Untertan
9. Thomas Mann: DerZauberberg
10. Alfred Döblin: Berlin Alexanderplatz
11. Irmgard Keun: Gilgi eine von uns
12. Robert Musil: Der Mann ohne Eigenschaften
13. Hermann Broch: Der Tod des Vergil
14. Franz Werfel: Stern der Ungeborenen
15. Wolfgang Koeppen: Tauben im Gras
16. Heinrich Böll: Billard um halbzehn
17. Uwe Johnson: Mutmassungen über Jakob; Jahrestage
18. Jurek Becker: Jakob der Lügner
19. Irmtraud Morgner: Leben und Abenteuer der Trobadora Beatriz nach Zeugnissen ihrer Spielfrau Laura
20. Ulrike Draesner: Sieben Sprünge vom Rand der Welt

 

Teaching methods

Seminar lessons

Assessment methods

The exam consists in an oral interview. During the interview the methodological and critical skills acquired by the student will be evaluated . The student will be invited to discuss the texts covered during the course and to move within the sources and bibliographical material in order to be able to identify in them the useful information that will enable to illustrate the similarities and cultural areas of the discipline. The achievement of an organic vision of the issues addressed during the classes and their critical use, which demonstrate ownership of a mastery of expression and specific language, will be assessed with marks of excellence. Mechanical and / or mnemonic knowledge of matter, synthesis and analysis of non-articulating and / or correct language but not always appropriate will lead to discrete assessments; training gaps and / or inappropriate language - although in a context of minimal knowledge of the material - will lead to votes that will not exceed the sufficiency. Training gaps, inappropriate language, lack of guidance within the reference materials offered during the course will lead to failed assessments.

Office hours

See the website of Michael Gottlieb Dallapiazza