German literature comprises the written works of the German-speaking peoples. The study of “German literature and culture” should not only provide a concise historical survey of German literature, but also give an understanding of the cultural developments of German-speaking countries.
This course aims to examine literary texts produced in German-speaking countries in their aesthetic value and as powerful instruments to understand the culture of these countries.
By the end of this course you should have:
- Acquired an understanding of German history and culture
- Developed an ability to read and analyse fictional texts
- Developed an ability to understand social, historical and political factors that have influenced the German culture
36 hours frontal lecture in German, reading texts in German
Attendance is not obbligatory, but heartily recommended
The course will examine the main linguistic aspects and the cultural background of the three first German translations of Machiavelli's Prince: the one handwritten in 1692 by Albrecht von Lenz for a private purpose, the anonimous one which was published in 1714 but had little circulation, and the translation which appeared 1741 together with Frederick's the Great Anti-Machiavel with explicit anti-Machiavellian purpose.
Readings will be made available on the webcourse, but you can find in the Library of Department (CSB) the critical editions of the two first German translations:
Nicolai Machiavelli Lebens- und Regierungs-Maximen eines Fürsten (1714). Kritisch hrsg. von R. De Pol, Berlin, Weidler 2006
Christian Albrecht von Lenz, Der Fürst des Nicola Machiavell (erste deutsche Übersetzung, 1692). Kritisch herausgegeben von Joachim Gerdes. Mit einem Vorwort von R. De Pol und einem Nachwort von Serena Spazzarini, Sandersdorf-Brehma, edition scriptum 2013
MICHAELA BÜRGER-KOFTIS (President)
ROBERTO DE POL (President)
JOACHIM HANS BERND GERDES
oral exam
An exam, the length of which varies according to the programme, held by the professor responsible for the course, during which the level of the student’s knowledge will be assessed according to the following criteria:
a) ability to read, translate and comment on and contextualise critically excerpts from texts examined during the course, plus other supplementary texts read and prepared autonomously, see the list which can be downloaded from the professor’s website, the course on aulaweb and can also be consulted on the notice board outside the professor’s office;
b) ability to respond in Italian and German to questions on topics covered during the course and on supplementary texts prepared for the examination, as well as possibly developing an autonomous critical discourse.
