The course deals with some of the most significant authors and developments in German literature from the turn of the century until 1945. Special emphasis shall be given to the following literary movements: the Viennese Modernists, Expressionism und Exile Literature, and to the following themes: the literary depiction of the “big city” and the war; the experience of alienation by the modern subject; the spirit of decadence und the apocalyptic mood at the turn of the 20th century; the relationship of the artist to society. Textual analysis of the individual works will incorporate both historical backgrounds as well as questions of narrative technique and genre history.
Prerequisites:
High willingness and readiness to read, active class participation, knowledge of German history from 1900-1945.
Learning outcomes:
By the end of this course, students will be able to recognize development tendencies in narratology, as well as in themes and topics of the works in focus. Students will also have established critical views on the contemporary history of the works in focus. This will be accomplished by means of a comparative literary approach.
Method of presentation:
Lectures and discussions in class, work groups, oral reports by the students, films, work sheets
1. Einführung
2. Sprachkrise und Sprachkritik zur Jahrhundertwende. Hugo von Hofmannsthal.
3. Arthur Schnitzler: „Leutnant Gustl“
4. Arthur Schnitzler: „Leutnant Gustl“
5. Der literarische Expressionismus: Die Novelle. Georg Heym: „Der Dieb“
6. Der literarische Expressionismus: Die Novelle. Franz Kafka, Robert Musil
7. Der literarische Expressionismus: Die Novelle. Alfred Döblin “Die Ermordung einer Butterblume”. Mit
Exkursion.
8. Der literarische Expressionismus: Die Novelle. Kasimir Edschmid, Carl Sternheim
9. Der literarische Expressionismus: Das Theater. Ernst Barlach
10. Midterm
11. Der literarische Expressionismus: Die Lyrik. Jakob van Hoddis
12. Der literarische Expressionismus: Die Prosa. Carl Einstein: „Bebuquin“
13. Dadaismus: Lyrik. Mit Lesung.
14. Franz Kafka: „Die Verwandlung“
15. Franz Kafka: „Die Verwandlung“
16. Thomas Mann: „Mario und der Zauberer“
17. Thomas Mann: „Mario und der Zauberer“
18. Thomas Mann: „Mario und der Zauberer“
19. Stefan Zweig „Die Schachnovelle“
20. Stefan Zweig „Die Schachnovelle“
21. Final
22. Besprechung Final
Required readings:
At the beginning of the course, students will receive a Reading Packet, as well as a list of required books to buy.
Kursreader mit Novellen, Prosa und Theaterstück
Arthur Schnitzler „Leutnant Gustl“, Ditzingen 2002 (Reclam Universal-Bibliothek)
Carl Einstein „Bebuquin“, Ditzingen 1986 (Reclam Universal-Bibliothek)
Franz Kafka „Die Verwandlung“, Ditzingen 1995 (Reclam Universal-Bibliothek)
Thomas Mann „Mario und der Zauberer“, Frankfurt a. M. 2005 (Fischer)
Stefan Zweig „Schachnovelle“, Frankfurt a. M. 2007 (Fischer)
Recommended readings:
Arthur Schnitzler „Fräulein Else und andere Erzählungen“, Frankfurt a. M. 2007
Arthur Schnitzler „Traumnovelle“, Ditzingen 2006
Alfred Döblin „Die Ermordung einer Butterblume: und andere Erzählungen“, München 2004
Thomas Mann „Tonio Kröger“, Frankfurt a. M. 1996
Brief Biography of Instructor:
Marcel Oettrich earned a M.A. in German Literature and Art History from the Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg. He is currently employed at the University of Freiburg and has taught seminars on Art History at IES Freiburg since 2004 and German Literature since 2009.
Modern German Literature: 1900-1945
The course deals with some of the most significant authors and developments in German literature from the turn of the century until 1945. Special emphasis shall be given to the following literary movements: the Viennese Modernists, Expressionism und Exile Literature, and to the following themes: the literary depiction of the “big city” and the war; the experience of alienation by the modern subject; the spirit of decadence und the apocalyptic mood at the turn of the 20th century; the relationship of the artist to society. Textual analysis of the individual works will incorporate both historical backgrounds as well as questions of narrative technique and genre history.
High willingness and readiness to read, active class participation, knowledge of German history from 1900-1945.
By the end of this course, students will be able to recognize development tendencies in narratology, as well as in themes and topics of the works in focus. Students will also have established critical views on the contemporary history of the works in focus. This will be accomplished by means of a comparative literary approach.
Lectures and discussions in class, work groups, oral reports by the students, films, work sheets
Oral participation (34%), 2 exams (33%), 2 essays
(33%)
1. Einführung
2. Sprachkrise und Sprachkritik zur Jahrhundertwende. Hugo von Hofmannsthal.
3. Arthur Schnitzler: „Leutnant Gustl“
4. Arthur Schnitzler: „Leutnant Gustl“
5. Der literarische Expressionismus: Die Novelle. Georg Heym: „Der Dieb“
6. Der literarische Expressionismus: Die Novelle. Franz Kafka, Robert Musil
7. Der literarische Expressionismus: Die Novelle. Alfred Döblin “Die Ermordung einer Butterblume”. Mit
Exkursion.
8. Der literarische Expressionismus: Die Novelle. Kasimir Edschmid, Carl Sternheim
9. Der literarische Expressionismus: Das Theater. Ernst Barlach
10. Midterm
11. Der literarische Expressionismus: Die Lyrik. Jakob van Hoddis
12. Der literarische Expressionismus: Die Prosa. Carl Einstein: „Bebuquin“
13. Dadaismus: Lyrik. Mit Lesung.
14. Franz Kafka: „Die Verwandlung“
15. Franz Kafka: „Die Verwandlung“
16. Thomas Mann: „Mario und der Zauberer“
17. Thomas Mann: „Mario und der Zauberer“
18. Thomas Mann: „Mario und der Zauberer“
19. Stefan Zweig „Die Schachnovelle“
20. Stefan Zweig „Die Schachnovelle“
21. Final
22. Besprechung Final
At the beginning of the course, students will receive a Reading Packet, as well as a list of required books to buy.
Kursreader mit Novellen, Prosa und Theaterstück
Arthur Schnitzler „Leutnant Gustl“, Ditzingen 2002 (Reclam Universal-Bibliothek)
Carl Einstein „Bebuquin“, Ditzingen 1986 (Reclam Universal-Bibliothek)
Franz Kafka „Die Verwandlung“, Ditzingen 1995 (Reclam Universal-Bibliothek)
Thomas Mann „Mario und der Zauberer“, Frankfurt a. M. 2005 (Fischer)
Stefan Zweig „Schachnovelle“, Frankfurt a. M. 2007 (Fischer)
Arthur Schnitzler „Fräulein Else und andere Erzählungen“, Frankfurt a. M. 2007
Arthur Schnitzler „Traumnovelle“, Ditzingen 2006
Alfred Döblin „Die Ermordung einer Butterblume: und andere Erzählungen“, München 2004
Thomas Mann „Tonio Kröger“, Frankfurt a. M. 1996
Marcel Oettrich earned a M.A. in German Literature and Art History from the Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg. He is currently employed at the University of Freiburg and has taught seminars on Art History at IES Freiburg since 2004 and German Literature since 2009.