History of thoughs and litterature in Germany II

Teacher(s)

Büssgen Antje;

Language

Deutsch

Prerequisites

/

Main themes

This course offers a chronological and critical survey of German literature from the 17th to the 21st century. It examines and illustrates the main literary movements and genres of this period and places them in their socio-cultural contexts.

Learning outcomes

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :
1	At the end of the course, students should be able to show insight into the distinctive features of major literary movements and genres. They should be able to situate them in their socio-cultural and historical contexts. Students will become familiar with important literary figures and canonical works of the historical period that is studied. They will be expected to know how to read and interpret some key texts. This course requires the writing of a critical essay which will form a major element of the final evaluation.

Content

German Literary History II: The Genesis of Modernity in Literature. Canonical works from the 18th to the 20th century.
Deutsche Literaturgeschichte II: Die Genese der Moderne in der Literatur. Kanonische Werke vom 18. bis 20. Jahrhundert.
The course presents the most important periods in the history of German literature from the end of the 18th century to the 20th century. The focus will be on the literature of the late 18th century (Spätaufklärung/ Weimarer Klassik) and Romanticism ("Kunstperiode" um 1800: Goethe, Schiller, Schlegel, Novalis, Kleist, E.T.A. Hoffmann) as well as the critical reactions to classical humanism and "German idealism" formulated under the influence of the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars: Georg Büchner develops a radically sceptical anthropology and poetry (Dantons Tod). The period of poetic realism which dominates the second half of the 19th century (Poetischer Realismus) will be discovered through the major work of the novelist Theodor Fontane, "Effie Briest" whose main character is, in German literature, in a certain sense a "soul sister" of Flaubert's Madame Bovary. The course then focuses on the so-called "fin de siècle" and "Klassische Moderne" trends or periods, and thus on the moment that saw the birth of the Avantgardes of the early 20th century. The main theme of the readings and discussions will be to understand how these currents of thought and artistic creation contributed to the creation of a vision of the world that we call "modern" and in which our conception of ourselves is still embedded, even if it has become "postmodern".
Working language: German.

Teaching methods

ntroduction to the topics by the teacher; independent reading of texts at home in preparation of the lectures by personal reading and notes written in German from reference books and scripts provided on moodle; analysis of literary or theoretical texts (poetology, aesthetics, philosophy) in the course in plenary discussion, by a common 'close reading' of selected passages of literary texts (= compulsory readings prepared individually in each course). This course is intended to help students to develop their knowledge of German literature and to learn how to apply the terminology learned in LGERM 1114 to the writing of scientific texts. Work on the explanation of texts and group work in the practical courses.

Working language: German.

Evaluation methods

Continuous assessment (preparation of readings, learning of the vocabulary related to literary studies, written exercises): 30 %; final evaluation in the form of a written paper: 70 %. Regular attendance, active participation as well as the different exercises are a prerequisite for the final evaluation.
The personal written work (final exam) is done individually referring to specific contents discovered during the four-month period in the course and in the practical work. In case of failure, the September session consists of a reworking of the work submitted in June.
Working language: German.

Online resources

Scripts, text extracts, vocabulary lists, detailed bibliography on Moodle.

Bibliography

Deutsche Literaturgeschichte von den Anfängen bis zur Gegenwart. Hrsg. von Wolfgang Beutin et al., neueste Auflage, Stuttgart: Metzler (cf. cours LGERM1314).

Une bibliographie détaillée sera diffusée au cours, sur Moodle.

Teaching materials

• cf. ressources en ligne et bibliographie

Faculty or entity

> ELAL