Contemporary German Literature
A.Y. 2019/2020
Learning objectives
The course is aimed at students of all the CdS of Humanistic Studies and aims to deepen the skills in the field of German literature, in particular the modern and postmodern, in the historical-political context. This course focuses on the representation, in the German language literature of the period of National Socialism, of the Second World War and of the post-war period, taking into consideration some significant works of the last decades.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding: Guidance on the history, sources, methods and tools of literary studies and on the analytical practices of textual hermeneutics. Knowledge of various significant authors of the German-speaking literature after 1945 and of their works dealing with the representation of the period of National Socialism and the Second World War. Understanding of the theoretical-methodological and historical-cultural problems inherent in the study of contemporary German literature, with particular attention to the narrative genre.
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding: ability to analyze and interpret the literary text in its historical-cultural context; ability to connect the chosen texts with the literary tradition of the twentieth century; ability to express the acquired skills with methodological rigor.
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding: ability to analyze and interpret the literary text in its historical-cultural context; ability to connect the chosen texts with the literary tradition of the twentieth century; ability to express the acquired skills with methodological rigor.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
The course is titled Narrating the Times of War. National Socialism in contemporary German literature and consists of the following three teaching units, which will be addressed in sequence:
A: The novel Unter der Drachenwand by Arno Geiger
B: The novels Am Beispiel meines Bruders by Uwe Timm and Der Vorleser by Bernhard Schlink
C: The story Leviathan by Arno Schmidt and the novel Der Engel schwieg by Heinrich Böll
Students who intend to acquire 6 credits will adhere to the program of units A and B; students who intend to acquire 9 credits will follow the full program (units A, B and C).
The course is dedicated to a series of German-language literary works, written after 1945, which have as their central theme the Second World War, the Shoah, the daily life under National Socialism and the devastating effects of the war conflict. The Unit A deals, after a brief introduction to the German and European history of the years 1933-1945, of the novel Unter der Drachenwand by Arno Geiger, which narrates with a meticulous historical reconstruction a year of the life of a young soldier, wounded by war , during his convalescence in an Austrian village. Unit B is dedicated to the novels Am Beispiel meines Bruders by Uwe Timm and Der Vorleser by Bernhard Schlink, which thematize the faults of the generation of fathers, who, between fanaticism and indifference, have made possible a war of aggression and genocide. Unit C deals with the story Leviathan by Arno Schmidt and the novel Der Engel schwieg by Heinrich Böll, whose protagonists have personally experienced, like their authors, the experience of war and its devastating consequences.
The course program is valid until February 2021. From the summer session 2021 it will be possible to present yourself exclusively on the A.A program. 2020-21.
A: The novel Unter der Drachenwand by Arno Geiger
B: The novels Am Beispiel meines Bruders by Uwe Timm and Der Vorleser by Bernhard Schlink
C: The story Leviathan by Arno Schmidt and the novel Der Engel schwieg by Heinrich Böll
Students who intend to acquire 6 credits will adhere to the program of units A and B; students who intend to acquire 9 credits will follow the full program (units A, B and C).
The course is dedicated to a series of German-language literary works, written after 1945, which have as their central theme the Second World War, the Shoah, the daily life under National Socialism and the devastating effects of the war conflict. The Unit A deals, after a brief introduction to the German and European history of the years 1933-1945, of the novel Unter der Drachenwand by Arno Geiger, which narrates with a meticulous historical reconstruction a year of the life of a young soldier, wounded by war , during his convalescence in an Austrian village. Unit B is dedicated to the novels Am Beispiel meines Bruders by Uwe Timm and Der Vorleser by Bernhard Schlink, which thematize the faults of the generation of fathers, who, between fanaticism and indifference, have made possible a war of aggression and genocide. Unit C deals with the story Leviathan by Arno Schmidt and the novel Der Engel schwieg by Heinrich Böll, whose protagonists have personally experienced, like their authors, the experience of war and its devastating consequences.
The course program is valid until February 2021. From the summer session 2021 it will be possible to present yourself exclusively on the A.A program. 2020-21.
Prerequisites for admission
The course is held entirely in German. The materials and the examination bibliography presuppose solid linguistic skills. Students of Degree Courses other than Languages who do not know German or are beginners will not always be able to rely on Italian translations; therefore, if interested in the course, they will have to contact the teacher in advance to assess any adaptations to the program. Erasmus students or other forms of mobility are admitted as long as they possess solid German language skills.
Teaching methods
The course adopts the following teaching methods: lectures; reading and commenting on excerpts from the works on the program; viewing, listening and commenting on audio and video material found online.
Teaching Resources
The course has an online platform on the teacher's website (https://users.unimi.it/dililefi/Haas.htm) which can be consulted for educational materials to download in PDF format. For each teaching unit, specific critical essays on individual works or authors or on general questions will be made available on the site.
Below are indicated the critical and narrative works of mandatory reading for the various teaching units and the reference editions.
Teaching unit A
Gustavo Corni, A brief history of Nazism 1920-1945. Bologna, Il Mulino, 2015 (with particular attention to pages 87-199).
Anton Reininger, History of German Literature. Between the Enlightenment and the post-modern 1700-2000, Turin, Rosenberg & Sellier, 2005 pp. 535-756.
Arno Geiger, Unter der Drachenwand, München, Hanser, 2018 (ISBN 978-3423086646)
Teaching unit B
Uwe Timm, Am Beispiel meines Bruders, München, DTV, 2011 (ISBN 978-3423133166)
Bernhard Schlink, Der Vorleser, Zürich, Diogenes, 2005
Teaching unit C
Arno Schmidt, Leviathan or the best of the worlds / Leviathan oder die beste der Welten (bilingual edition), Mimesis, Milan 2013. (ISBN 978-88-5751-296-9)
Heinrich Böll, Der Engel schwieg, München, DTV, 2014 (ISBN 978-3423124508)
Directions for non-attending students
The program for non-attending students is unchanged from that for attending students. Naturally, given the greater difficulties deriving from a preparation conducted independently, it is recommended that non-attending students devote an appropriate amount of time to the study and elaboration of the contents foreseen by the program and to integrate the bibliography with further materials available online or in the library.
Below are indicated the critical and narrative works of mandatory reading for the various teaching units and the reference editions.
Teaching unit A
Gustavo Corni, A brief history of Nazism 1920-1945. Bologna, Il Mulino, 2015 (with particular attention to pages 87-199).
Anton Reininger, History of German Literature. Between the Enlightenment and the post-modern 1700-2000, Turin, Rosenberg & Sellier, 2005 pp. 535-756.
Arno Geiger, Unter der Drachenwand, München, Hanser, 2018 (ISBN 978-3423086646)
Teaching unit B
Uwe Timm, Am Beispiel meines Bruders, München, DTV, 2011 (ISBN 978-3423133166)
Bernhard Schlink, Der Vorleser, Zürich, Diogenes, 2005
Teaching unit C
Arno Schmidt, Leviathan or the best of the worlds / Leviathan oder die beste der Welten (bilingual edition), Mimesis, Milan 2013. (ISBN 978-88-5751-296-9)
Heinrich Böll, Der Engel schwieg, München, DTV, 2014 (ISBN 978-3423124508)
Directions for non-attending students
The program for non-attending students is unchanged from that for attending students. Naturally, given the greater difficulties deriving from a preparation conducted independently, it is recommended that non-attending students devote an appropriate amount of time to the study and elaboration of the contents foreseen by the program and to integrate the bibliography with further materials available online or in the library.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam consists of an individual interview, which includes questions asked by the teacher, interactions between the teacher and the student, and the analysis and commentary of one or more excerpts from the works in the program. The interview has a variable duration depending on the teaching units on which the student is presented, and takes place (at the student's choice) in German or Italian. The interview aims to verify the knowledge of the texts read, the ability to contextualize authors and works, the ability in the exposition, the precision in the use of specific terminology, the capacity for critical and personal reflection on the proposed themes. The final grade is expressed in thirtieths, and the student has the right to refuse it (in this case it will be verbalized as "withdrawn").
International or Erasmus incoming students are invited to contact the teacher promptly. The examination procedures for students with disabilities and / or with DSA must be agreed with the teacher, in agreement with the competent Office.
International or Erasmus incoming students are invited to contact the teacher promptly. The examination procedures for students with disabilities and / or with DSA must be agreed with the teacher, in agreement with the competent Office.
Unita' didattica A
L-LIN/13 - GERMAN LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica B
L-LIN/13 - GERMAN LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica C
L-LIN/13 - GERMAN LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor(s)
Reception:
Wednesday 15:00-18:00 (For other times: agree via email)
Office Prof. Barbara Berti, Anglistics, 4th floor, Sant'Alessandro and on Microsoft Teams