Contemporary German Literature
A.Y. 2023/2024
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.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
The course is entitled "Autobiographism and Intertextuality in the Works of Ingeborg Bachmann and Max Frisch" and consists of the following three teaching units, which will be dealt with in sequence:
A: Identity and fiction: the novel "Mein Name sei Gantenbein" by Max Frisch
B: Women succumbing: Ingeborg Bachmann's "Das Buch Franza" and "Requiem für Fanny Goldmann".
C: Dialogue at a distance: "Malina" by Ingeborg Bachmann and "Montauk" by Max Frisch
Students intending to acquire 6 CFU will stick to the syllabus of units A and B; students intending to acquire 9 CFU will stick to the full syllabus (units A, B and C).
The course is dedicated to those works by Ingeborg Bachmann and Max Frisch that reflect, among other things, their personal and literary relationship. In the years 1958 - 1963, the Austrian author and the Swiss author had a troubled love and intellectual relationship, much of whose background is only known after the publication of their epistolary in 2022. After their separation, the works of both reacted veiledly to the failure of their common life project.
Unit A deals, after a brief introduction to Bachmann's and Frisch's works, with Max Frisch's novel "Mein Name sei Gantenbein", which was partly still written during their difficult cohabitation in Rome.
Unit B is dedicated to the unfinished novels "Das Buch Franza" and "Requiem für Fanny Goldmann", with which Ingeborg Bachmann reacts to Frisch's novel and love and existential failures in general.
Unit C deals with Bachmann's novel "Malina" and Frisch's short story "Montauk", works in which both continue their dialogue at a distance and attempt to overcome personal defeats.
The course program runs until February 2025. From the 2025 summer session, it will be possible to present only the A.A. 2024-25 program.
A: Identity and fiction: the novel "Mein Name sei Gantenbein" by Max Frisch
B: Women succumbing: Ingeborg Bachmann's "Das Buch Franza" and "Requiem für Fanny Goldmann".
C: Dialogue at a distance: "Malina" by Ingeborg Bachmann and "Montauk" by Max Frisch
Students intending to acquire 6 CFU will stick to the syllabus of units A and B; students intending to acquire 9 CFU will stick to the full syllabus (units A, B and C).
The course is dedicated to those works by Ingeborg Bachmann and Max Frisch that reflect, among other things, their personal and literary relationship. In the years 1958 - 1963, the Austrian author and the Swiss author had a troubled love and intellectual relationship, much of whose background is only known after the publication of their epistolary in 2022. After their separation, the works of both reacted veiledly to the failure of their common life project.
Unit A deals, after a brief introduction to Bachmann's and Frisch's works, with Max Frisch's novel "Mein Name sei Gantenbein", which was partly still written during their difficult cohabitation in Rome.
Unit B is dedicated to the unfinished novels "Das Buch Franza" and "Requiem für Fanny Goldmann", with which Ingeborg Bachmann reacts to Frisch's novel and love and existential failures in general.
Unit C deals with Bachmann's novel "Malina" and Frisch's short story "Montauk", works in which both continue their dialogue at a distance and attempt to overcome personal defeats.
The course program runs until February 2025. From the 2025 summer session, it will be possible to present only the A.A. 2024-25 program.
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 the Ariel online platform (https://myariel.unimi.it/course/view.php?id=2461#section-0) to which reference is made for teaching materials that can be downloaded in PDF format. For each teaching unit, specific critical essays on the novels in question will be made available on the site.
Indicated below are the critical and narrative works of compulsory reading for the various teaching units and the reference editions.
Learning Unit A
Max Frisch: "Mein Name sei Gantenbein. Roman". Suhrkamp, Berlin 2009. ISBN: 9783518367865
Volker Hage: "Max Frisch. Monographie". Reinbek, Rowohlt 2011 (with emphasis on pages 65-83). ISBN: 9783499507199
C.M. Buglioni, M. Castellari, A. Goggio, M. Paleari: "German Literature. Ages, genres, intersections". Vol. 2, Mondadori, Milan 2019, pp. 175-370 (the period 1945-1989).
Learning Unit B
Ingeborg Bachmann: "Das Buch Franza. Requiem für Fanny Goldmann. Texte des 'Todesarten'-Projekts". Herausgegeben von Monika Albrecht und Dirk Göttsche. Piper, München 2004. ISBN: 9783492242417.
Hans Höller: "Ingeborg Bachmann. Monographie". Reinbek, Rowohlt 1999 (with emphasis on pages 117-162). ISBN: 9783499505454
Rita Svandrlik: "Ingeborg Bachmann: i sentieri della scrittura". Carocci, Rome 2000, pp. 175-233. ISBN: 978-8843017713
Learning Unit C
Ingeborg Bachmann: "Malina. Roman". Suhrkamp, Frankfurt 2004. ISBN: 9783518371411
Max Frisch: "Montauk. Eine Erzählung". Suhrkamp, Berlin 2017. ISBN: 9783518372005
Monika Albrecht: "'Aber bitte keine Geschichten'. Ingeborg Bachmann als Kritikerin Max Frischs in ihrem 'Todesarten'-Projekt". In: Heinz Ludwig Arnold (Herausgeber), Ingeborg Bachmann. Text + Kritik, München 1995, pp. 136-153.
Notes for non-attending students
The program for non-attending students is unchanged from that for attending students. Naturally, in view of the greater difficulties arising from autonomous preparation, it is recommended that non-attending students devote an appropriate amount of time to studying and processing the contents of the program and supplement the bibliography with additional material available online or in the library.
Indicated below are the critical and narrative works of compulsory reading for the various teaching units and the reference editions.
Learning Unit A
Max Frisch: "Mein Name sei Gantenbein. Roman". Suhrkamp, Berlin 2009. ISBN: 9783518367865
Volker Hage: "Max Frisch. Monographie". Reinbek, Rowohlt 2011 (with emphasis on pages 65-83). ISBN: 9783499507199
C.M. Buglioni, M. Castellari, A. Goggio, M. Paleari: "German Literature. Ages, genres, intersections". Vol. 2, Mondadori, Milan 2019, pp. 175-370 (the period 1945-1989).
Learning Unit B
Ingeborg Bachmann: "Das Buch Franza. Requiem für Fanny Goldmann. Texte des 'Todesarten'-Projekts". Herausgegeben von Monika Albrecht und Dirk Göttsche. Piper, München 2004. ISBN: 9783492242417.
Hans Höller: "Ingeborg Bachmann. Monographie". Reinbek, Rowohlt 1999 (with emphasis on pages 117-162). ISBN: 9783499505454
Rita Svandrlik: "Ingeborg Bachmann: i sentieri della scrittura". Carocci, Rome 2000, pp. 175-233. ISBN: 978-8843017713
Learning Unit C
Ingeborg Bachmann: "Malina. Roman". Suhrkamp, Frankfurt 2004. ISBN: 9783518371411
Max Frisch: "Montauk. Eine Erzählung". Suhrkamp, Berlin 2017. ISBN: 9783518372005
Monika Albrecht: "'Aber bitte keine Geschichten'. Ingeborg Bachmann als Kritikerin Max Frischs in ihrem 'Todesarten'-Projekt". In: Heinz Ludwig Arnold (Herausgeber), Ingeborg Bachmann. Text + Kritik, München 1995, pp. 136-153.
Notes for non-attending students
The program for non-attending students is unchanged from that for attending students. Naturally, in view of the greater difficulties arising from autonomous preparation, it is recommended that non-attending students devote an appropriate amount of time to studying and processing the contents of the program and supplement the bibliography with additional material 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 parts 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
Educational website(s)
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