OVERVIEW

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.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

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.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

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

TEACHING METHODS

36 hours frontal lecture in German, reading texts in German

Lessons in German, readings in German.

Attendance is not obbligatory, but heartily recommended

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Forms of the Grotesque in Austrian literature from Nestroy to Schwab

This course focuses on the phenomenon of the grotesque in Austrian literature of the 19th and 20th centuries. In a first attempt to provide a concise definition of the two phenomena, the Grotesque and Austrian literature, we analyze and interpret a selection of representative examples, including works by Nestroy, Kraus, Kafka, Horváth, Canetti, Jandl, Jelinek and Schwab. We conclude with an open end that provides a glimpse into the 21st century

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Secondary literature:

Wolfgang Kayser: Das Groteske. Seine Gestaltung in Dichtung und Malerei. Oldenburg/Hamburg: Stalling 1957. (Material Aulaweb).

Gerhard Mensching: Das Groteske im modernen Drama. Dargestellt an ausgewählten Beispielen. Phil. Diss. Bonn 1961. [Masch.], S. 36-49. (Material Aulaweb)

Michail M. Bachtin: Die Gestalt des grotesken Leibes. In: Michael M. Bachtin: Literatur und Karneval. Zur Romantheorie und Lachkultur. Aus dem Russischen übersetzt u. mit einem Nachwort versehen v. Alexander Kaempfe. Frankfurt/M.: Fischer 1996, S. 15-23. (Material Aulaweb)

Michail M. Bachtin: Wolfgang Kaysers Theorie des Grotesken. In: Bachtin, a.a.O., S. 24-31. (Material Aulaweb)

Arnold Heidsieck: Das Groteske und das Absurde im modernen Drama. Stuttgart: Kohlhammer 1969, S. 16 – 27; 37 – 46; 95 - 115. (Material Aulaweb)

Sowie die gesamte Sekundärliteratur zur Begriffsbestimmung des Grotesken in der Aulaweb (Müller, Kayser, Mensching, Pietzcker) und meine Essays zum Thema:

Groteske und Sprachgroteske in den Fäkaliendramen von Werner Schwab. (Material Aulaweb)

Formen des Grotesken in der österreichischen Literatur von Nestroy bis Schwab. (Material Aulaweb)

Elemente des Grotesken und Absurden in Jura Soyfers Dramen (Material Aulaweb)

Literature: 

Johann Nestroy: Der Zerrissene, https://nestroy.at/nestroy-stuecke/52_zerr/zerr.pdf

Franz Kafka: Die Verwandlung, Bibliothek

Karl Kraus: Die letzten Tage der Menschheit, Bibliothek

Jura Soyfer: DerWeltuntergang, Bibliothek

Ernst Jandl: Gedichte (Kriegskrüppel, Heldenplatz), Aulaweb

Thomas Bernhard: Ein Fest für Boris, Bibliothek

 Werner Schwab: Volksvernichtung oder Meine Leber ist sinnlos, MBK

 Doron Rabinovici: Andernorts (Ital.: Altrove, La Giuntina, 2013) 

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

1 st of october

• Martedì 15-16 [BALBI 2: Aula 9 [45]]:  65293, 65294 : Letteratura e Cultura Tedesca Mod.1-2 - L-LIN/13 - M. Bürger [4 LM37/38, 5 LM37/38] – [#65293-1]
• Mercoledì 15-16 [BALBI 2: Aula 9 [45]]:  65293, 65294 : Letteratura e Cultura Tedesca Mod.1-2 - L-LIN/13 - M. Bürger [4 LM37/38, 5 LM37/38] – [#65293-1]
• Mercoledì 16-17 [BALBI 2: Aula 9 [45]]:  65293, 65294 : Letteratura e Cultura Tedesca Mod.1-2 - L-LIN/13 - M. Bürger [4 LM37/38, 5 LM37/38] – [#65293-1]

Class schedule

GERMAN LITERATURE AND CULTURE MOD.1

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Oral exam, three questions, each one can be rated with max. 10 points and sum up to the maximum vote of 30/30 adding, eventually the "lode", excellency.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

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.

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. Further information available at https://unige.it/disabilita-dsa.

Target group

Students from the LM 37/38 1st year, Comunicazione Internazionale

Credits

The exam is equivalent to 6 credit points.

Languages

Lessons will be held in German.