OVERVIEW

The module covers the period from about 1700 to 1830. This course provides an introduction to literature of this period. In the first part of the course you will learn about techniques of studying fictional texts and understanding them within their social, political and cultural contexts.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this course you should have:

- Acquired an understanding of a number of important Enlightment/Romantic/Vormärz -texts

- Developed an ability to read and analyse fictional texts

- Developed an ability to understand social, historical and political factors that have influenced Enlightment/Romantic/Vormärz writers

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this course you should have:

- Acquired an understanding of a number of important Enlightment/Romantic/Vormärz -texts

- Developed an ability to read and analyse fictional texts

- Developed an ability to understand social, historical and political factors that have influenced Enlightment/Romantic/Vormärz writers

Students should have acquired an independent literary judgment.

PREREQUISITES

none

TEACHING METHODS

36 hours, 3 hours per week in the second semester (February-May 2025)

Traditional lessons

36 hours (three weekly hours over 12 weeks) of lectures held by the teacher, during which literary, social and historical analyses will be accompanied by comments on single literary works, even with the reading of chosen texts in Italian translation and in German version. This activity will be meant to provide students with methodological tools and to promote students' participation. 

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The module covers the period from about 1700 to 1830. This course provides an introduction to literature of this period. All the lectures are in the second semester (36 hours). In the first part of the course you will learn about techniques of studying fictional texts and understanding them within their social, political and cultural contexts.

This course is taken by all first-year students taking courses in German Studies.

Students will have to read: "Emilia Galotti" by Lessing; "Kabale und Liebe" by Schiller; "Homburg" by Kleist; "Der Sandmann" by Hoffmann; "Woyzeck" by Büchner.

Lessons and readings in Italian.

Attendance is not obbligatory, but heartily recommended.

The exam will be a written paper.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. Lessing

"Emilia Galotti": Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, Emilia Galotti. Einaudi (1980). Collezione di teatro

"Minna von Barnhelm": Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, Minna von Barnhelm. A cura di Emilio Bonfatti. Traduzione di Italo Alighiero Chiusano. Letteratura universale Marsilio. Marsilio (1990)

"Nathan il saggio": Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, Nathan il saggio. Garzanti (2003). I grandi Libri

2. Schiller

"Intrigo e Amore", versione consigliata, contenuta in: Friedrich Schiller, Teatro. Einaudi (1969)

3. Kleist

"Homburg": Heinrich von Kleist, Il principe di Homburg. Introduzione e traduzione di Rossana Rossanda. A cura di Hermann Dorowin. Letteratura universale Marsilio. Marsilio (1997)

4. Hoffmann

"L'uomo della sabbia": Hoffmann, L'uomo della sabbia e altri racconti. Traduzione di Gerardo Fraccari. Introduzione di Luigi Forte. Note a cura di Marina Bellucci. Oscar Mondadori (1987)

5. Büchner

"Woyzeck": Georg Büchner, Woyzeck. A cura di Hermann Dorowin. Letteratura universale Marsilio. Marsilio (2003)

Non-attending students shall present the programme specified above, with the addition of the following textbook:

Buglioni, Castellari, Goggio, Paleari, Letteratura tedesca. Epoche, generi, inersezioni. Dal Medioevo al primo Novecento. Le Monnier Università (2020), pp. 65-87; 94-99; 110-120; 136-144; 235-246; 311-312.

For details about the programme, the reading list and all the material for students who cannot attend the course, please contact the teacher at serena.spazzarini@unige.it

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

SERENA SPAZZARINI (President)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Lessons start on February 2025.

Weekly timetable:

Class schedule

GERMAN LITERATURE AND CULTURE I

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

This course is assessed by written examination on the contents of the course and the reading list, as well as other compulsory materials. Language of examination: German or Italian (at the choice of the Student). Total test time: 1 hr. The open-ended-question exam paper covers all parts of the syllabus (cultural and historical context, history of literature and all the prescribed texts and critical materials).

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The exam will be a written paper. It will include both essay questions and questions requiring direct answer on the historical-cultural context, on the critical material (=general part) and on the analysed texts. The exam will verify: a. the effective acquisition of basic critic knowledge; b. the effective acquisition of basic knowledge on the German culture and literature of the period Enlightenment/Vormärz and their identification in a text. The open questions will allow to evaluate the ability to apply the acquired knowledge for the analysis of a text.

The weighting is 40% for the general part and 60% for the analyse and interpretation of the texts.

Language of examination: German or Italian (at the choice of the Student). Total test time: 1 hr. The open-ended-question exam paper covers all parts of the syllabus. 

FURTHER INFORMATION

Students who have valid certification of physical or learning disabilities on file with the University and who wish to discuss possible accommodations or other circumstances regarding lectures, coursework and exams, should speak both with the instructor and with Prof. Sara Dickinson (sara.dickinson@unige.it), the Department's disability liaison.