German Literature (MA)
A.Y. 2020/2021
Learning objectives
After a broad chronological overview of the most important moments and authors of the history of German literature from the 18th century to the present day has been provided during the bachelor studies, the present master course focuses on specific problems and moments in German literature with the aim of deepening the topics covered through a rigorous textual analysis in order to teach students the fundamental tools of literary hermeneutics.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding: The course aims to provide students with an overview of the modern philosophical-hermeneutical debate on the narrativity of historiography and therefore also on the fictionality of autobiography and testimony. The results of this discussion will then be applied to the analysis of some paradigmatic works of German Holocaust literature. Applying knowledge and understanding: The in-depth analysis of the formal characteristics and content of the works examined aims to provide the tools and methodological skills of literary analysis.
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
Lesson period
First semester
In consideration of the limitations imposed on teaching by the anti-covid measures, the teaching will take place synchronously online, on the TEAMS platform or possibly on the Zoom platform. The lessons will still be recorded and can therefore also be used asynchronously. During the lesson, which will be held in German, texts will be read, interpreted and commented which will be at least largely shared on the screen. Some movies will also be analyzed and discussed and in this case it will be the students' task to obtain and watch the movies (either by borrowing them from the library, or downloading them in some cases from YouTube or some other platform).
Course syllabus
The course is entitled: "Die Täter" I: historical, literary and filmic representations of the Holocaust executioners, and is divided into the following three teaching units, which will be addressed in sequence:
A: The Nuremberg Trial and the Eichmann Trial.
B: Auschwitz and the Frankfurt trial
C: The Mengele case
Students interested in acquiring 6 cfu will stick to the program of teaching units A and B; students interested in acquiring 9 cfu will stick to the full program.
Reflections on the theme of guilt and responsibility in reference to the persecution and extermination of the Jews (Jaspers) began immediately after the war, but at least starting from the Eichmann trial (1961), historical research focused mainly on the victims of the Shoah and on their testimonies (Wieviorka), without investigating the "perpetrators" of that crime. Two stereotyped images were developed, that of the sadistic and perverse monster, on the one hand, and that of the gray bureaucrat, simple executor of orders, on the other. Only starting from the nineties also historical research began to investigate more deeply the executioners, their different typologies and their motivations (Täterforschung). Even the literary and filmic representations of the Shoah broadly follow this evolution of research, although the images of the executioners are often still influenced by Hannah Arendt's idea of the "banality of evil". The course therefore aims to reflect on this issue, analyzing some of the most significant representations of the executioners of the Shoah in German literature and in the movies.
A: The Nuremberg Trial and the Eichmann Trial.
B: Auschwitz and the Frankfurt trial
C: The Mengele case
Students interested in acquiring 6 cfu will stick to the program of teaching units A and B; students interested in acquiring 9 cfu will stick to the full program.
Reflections on the theme of guilt and responsibility in reference to the persecution and extermination of the Jews (Jaspers) began immediately after the war, but at least starting from the Eichmann trial (1961), historical research focused mainly on the victims of the Shoah and on their testimonies (Wieviorka), without investigating the "perpetrators" of that crime. Two stereotyped images were developed, that of the sadistic and perverse monster, on the one hand, and that of the gray bureaucrat, simple executor of orders, on the other. Only starting from the nineties also historical research began to investigate more deeply the executioners, their different typologies and their motivations (Täterforschung). Even the literary and filmic representations of the Shoah broadly follow this evolution of research, although the images of the executioners are often still influenced by Hannah Arendt's idea of the "banality of evil". The course therefore aims to reflect on this issue, analyzing some of the most significant representations of the executioners of the Shoah in German literature and in the movies.
Prerequisites for admission
The course, which is held entirely in German, the examination documents and the bibliography require solid language skills, knowledge of literary history, the ability to use critical terms and to apply the critical analysis acquired in previous courses.
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 a site on the Ariel online teaching platform (https://acostazzalt.ariel.ctu.unimi.it) 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.
Bibliographical indications (some of the works indicated are no longer on the market, others are also present on the market as e-books. For this reason no particular editions are indicated here, but only the titles and the year of the first publication are given. Some materials will be made available on the ARIEL page of the course).
Teaching unit A
Karl Jaspers, Die Schuldfrage (1946);
Rolf Schneider, Prozeß in Nürnberg. Ein Dokumentarstück (1968);
Hannah Arendt, Eichmann in Jerusalem. Ein Bericht von der Banalität des Bösen (1963);
Heinar Kipphardt, Bruder Eichmann (1985);
film: Stefan Ruzowitzky, Das radikal Böse (2014);
Eyal Sivan (regia), Uno specialista. Ritratto di un criminale moderno (1999).
Teaching unit B
Rudolf Höß, Kommandant in Auschwitz (1963);
Peter Weiss, Die Ermittlung. Oratorium in 11 Gesängen (1965);
Ebbo Demant (Hrsg.), Auschwitz - "Direkt von der Rampe weg..." Kaduk, Erber, Klehr: Drei Täter geben zu Protokoll, Hamburg 1979;
film: Ebbo Demant (regia), Drei deutsche Möder. Aufzeichnungen über die Banalität des Bösen (1999);
Theodor Kotulla, Aus einem deutschen Leben (1977).
Teaching unit C:
Peter Schneider, Vati (1988);
film: Egidio Eronico (regia), Papà rua Alguem 5555 (My Father - Rua Alguem 5555), 2003),
Lucia Puenzo (regia), The German Doctor - Wakolda (2013)
Secondary literature
Laura Fontana, La recherche en langue allemande sur les exécuteurs du crime. Évolution, résultats et limites de la Täterforschung, Revue d'histoire de la Shoah n. 206/2017, pp. 289-318 ;
Gerhard Paul (Hrsg.), Die Täter der Shoah. Fanatische Nationalisten oder ganz normale Deutsche? Göttingen 2002 ;
Hermann Langbein, Menschen in Auschwitz, Wien - München 1995;
Bibliographical indications (some of the works indicated are no longer on the market, others are also present on the market as e-books. For this reason no particular editions are indicated here, but only the titles and the year of the first publication are given. Some materials will be made available on the ARIEL page of the course).
Teaching unit A
Karl Jaspers, Die Schuldfrage (1946);
Rolf Schneider, Prozeß in Nürnberg. Ein Dokumentarstück (1968);
Hannah Arendt, Eichmann in Jerusalem. Ein Bericht von der Banalität des Bösen (1963);
Heinar Kipphardt, Bruder Eichmann (1985);
film: Stefan Ruzowitzky, Das radikal Böse (2014);
Eyal Sivan (regia), Uno specialista. Ritratto di un criminale moderno (1999).
Teaching unit B
Rudolf Höß, Kommandant in Auschwitz (1963);
Peter Weiss, Die Ermittlung. Oratorium in 11 Gesängen (1965);
Ebbo Demant (Hrsg.), Auschwitz - "Direkt von der Rampe weg..." Kaduk, Erber, Klehr: Drei Täter geben zu Protokoll, Hamburg 1979;
film: Ebbo Demant (regia), Drei deutsche Möder. Aufzeichnungen über die Banalität des Bösen (1999);
Theodor Kotulla, Aus einem deutschen Leben (1977).
Teaching unit C:
Peter Schneider, Vati (1988);
film: Egidio Eronico (regia), Papà rua Alguem 5555 (My Father - Rua Alguem 5555), 2003),
Lucia Puenzo (regia), The German Doctor - Wakolda (2013)
Secondary literature
Laura Fontana, La recherche en langue allemande sur les exécuteurs du crime. Évolution, résultats et limites de la Täterforschung, Revue d'histoire de la Shoah n. 206/2017, pp. 289-318 ;
Gerhard Paul (Hrsg.), Die Täter der Shoah. Fanatische Nationalisten oder ganz normale Deutsche? Göttingen 2002 ;
Hermann Langbein, Menschen in Auschwitz, Wien - München 1995;
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