German Literature 1
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
The course aims to introduce learners to the study of German literature at university level and to provide them with knowledge and skills both in cultural-historical perspective and in terms of methodology, close-reading, philological and critical issues, . After a brief overview of the many centuries prior to the beginning of modern German literature, the aim is in particular to introduce them through remote teaching into literary movements, trends, genres, texts, themes and authors of the Age of Enlightenment (c. 1700-1789) and the Classic Romantic Age (c. 1789-1815). The main learning objective is thus to provide a solid foundation to advanced study of the discipline, combining literary-historical aspects and analytical practices with an in-depth study of specific topics/works (depending on the academic year), so as to train the student in analysis and interpretation of salient issues of modern German literature in its European context.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding: essential features of German History and Culture of the Middle Ages and of the Early Modern period; in-depth knowledge and understanding of German Literature between 1700 and 1815 ca.; in-depth knowledge and critical understanding of selected topics of modern German literature. Applying knowledge and understanding: use of historical-literary, analytical, critical tools; skills in tutored self-study with multimedia platforms; skills in close reading of selected texts (also in German as far as formal features are concerned), skills in discussing genres, trends, authors, works and themes of the given period; reading and individual analysis of complete works; ability to deal with German Studies tools and critical readings (in Italian).
Lesson period: year
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
year
Course syllabus
Title of the course: "German Literature from the Middle Ages to Romanticism"
Part A: Goethe's Faust (I) (M. Castellari, II semester)
Part B: Goeth's Faust (II) (M. Castellari, II semester)
Part C: Reading the Canon of German Literature (S. Apostolo, I semester)
The course delivers 9 credits; teaching parts are all compulsory.
The course deals with German literature from the Middle Ages to Romanticism, with special attention to: Unit A-B: the Faust-myth and Goethe´s "Faust"-tragedy; Unit C: methods of reading literary texts from the German canon up to Romanticism.
The course includes integrative multimedia practical classes during both semesters (see ARIEL): this leads the learner to develop historical-literary knowledge and textual analysis skills with reference to German language literature from its origins to Romanticism. After a brief cultural-historical overview of the Middle Ages and of Early Modern Germany, the focus will be on movements, genres, texts, themes and authors in the Age of Enlightenment (ca. 1700-1789) and the Age of Classicism and Romanticism (ca. 1789-1815).
The course program is valid until September 2027. Starting with the following exam term the program of the 2026-27 course will only be valid.
Part A: Goethe's Faust (I) (M. Castellari, II semester)
Part B: Goeth's Faust (II) (M. Castellari, II semester)
Part C: Reading the Canon of German Literature (S. Apostolo, I semester)
The course delivers 9 credits; teaching parts are all compulsory.
The course deals with German literature from the Middle Ages to Romanticism, with special attention to: Unit A-B: the Faust-myth and Goethe´s "Faust"-tragedy; Unit C: methods of reading literary texts from the German canon up to Romanticism.
The course includes integrative multimedia practical classes during both semesters (see ARIEL): this leads the learner to develop historical-literary knowledge and textual analysis skills with reference to German language literature from its origins to Romanticism. After a brief cultural-historical overview of the Middle Ages and of Early Modern Germany, the focus will be on movements, genres, texts, themes and authors in the Age of Enlightenment (ca. 1700-1789) and the Age of Classicism and Romanticism (ca. 1789-1815).
The course program is valid until September 2027. Starting with the following exam term the program of the 2026-27 course will only be valid.
Prerequisites for admission
No prerequisites for admission
Teaching methods
The course is delivered mainly as a lecture (overall introductions, methodological and historical perspectives, literary forms and terms, close readings of original texts; philological and critical issues). It also includes practical classes (remote teaching, multimedia tools, self assessment) in both first and second semester.
Teaching Resources
The course has a website on the "My Ariel" online teaching platform (Letteratura tedesca 1). There one finds materials for attending the course and preparing for the exam as well as further information and material.
Teaching parts A, B & C
The program of the three parts is unique and consists of three sections.
1) HANDBOOK OF GERMAN LITERATURE AND SELECTED TEXTS
C.M. Buglioni, M. Castellari, A. Goggio, M. Paleari: "Letteratura tedesca. Epoche, generi, intersezioni. Dal Medioevo al primo Novecento" (= vol. 1). Milano: Mondadori 2019, pp. 1-292 (from the Middle Ages to Romanticism) + all further materials regarding these contentsinsight boxes, glossary, tables etc.
2) READING OF NO LESS THAN TWO ENTIRE WORKS
Each student is required to read at least two literary works by two different authors. It is also recommended that the selected works represent different literary periods.
It is recommended to read introductions and / or afterwords.
The choice between the various existing editions is free as long as they are integral versions.
One can read these works in German or in translation.
A) at least on of the following dramas (here listed in a chronological order):
- G.E. Lessing, "Emilia Galotti"
- J.M. Lenz. "Die Soldaten"
- G.E. Lessing, "Nathan der Weise"
- F. Schiller, "Kabale und Liebe"
- J.W. Goethe, "Iphigenie auf Tauris"
- L. Tieck, "Der gestiefelte Kater"
- F. Schiller, "Maria Stuart"
- F. Schiller, "Wilhelm Tell"
- H.v. Kleist, "Penthesilea"
- H.v. Kleist, "Prinz Friedrich von Homburg"
B) at least on of the following naratives (here listed in a chronological order):
- Ch.M. Wieland, "Musarion oder Die Philosophie der Grazien"
- J.W. Goethe, "Die Leiden des jungen Werther"
- J.W. Goethe, "Wilhelm Meisters Lehrjahre"
- L. Tieck, "Der blonde Eckbert"
- F. Hölderlin, "Hyperion oder der Eremit in Griechenland"
- J.W. Goethe, "Die Wahlverwandtschaften"
- A.v. Chamisso, "Peter Schlemihls wundersame Geschichte"
- E.T.A. Hoffmann, "Der goldene Topf"
- E.T.A. Hoffmann, "Der Sandmann"
- J.v. Eichendorff, "Aus dem Leben eines Taugenichts"
3) FAUST
- An anthology of texts and materials on the myth of Faust and its literary will be made available (MyAriel).
- J.W. Goethe: Introduzione e prefazione di Italo Alighiero Chiusano.
Traduzione, sommario e note di Andrea Casalegno. Milano, Garzanti, various editions.
IMPORTANT: It is mandatory to use this annotated edition of the text, which each student must use — in all its parts (text and paratexts) — during lessons, for study, and in the exam. Students attending the course will be examined on the parts of the work covered in class, along with the related paratexts. Non-attending students must prepare the entire work (Urfaust - Faust I - Faust II - introductions, commentary, notes).
Programme for non-attending students
The attendance of the course is highly recommended as it is one of the compulsory exams for those who study German Language and Literature in the context of Foreign Languages and Literatures.
During office hours, non-attending students (i.e. those who do not attend at all and those who attend less than 75% of the lessons) will be given further directions for the preparation of the exam.
In any case, it is foreseen for non-attendants:
- the extension of the number of individual readings to at least four works (2 of the first group, 2 of the second group, all by different authors). Any further specific materials intended for non-attending students will be made available on ARIEL.
For the rest, the program coincides with that of attending students (the possibility of taking partial tests after taking practical classes in remote teaching is also offered to non-attending students)
Teaching parts A, B & C
The program of the three parts is unique and consists of three sections.
1) HANDBOOK OF GERMAN LITERATURE AND SELECTED TEXTS
C.M. Buglioni, M. Castellari, A. Goggio, M. Paleari: "Letteratura tedesca. Epoche, generi, intersezioni. Dal Medioevo al primo Novecento" (= vol. 1). Milano: Mondadori 2019, pp. 1-292 (from the Middle Ages to Romanticism) + all further materials regarding these contentsinsight boxes, glossary, tables etc.
2) READING OF NO LESS THAN TWO ENTIRE WORKS
Each student is required to read at least two literary works by two different authors. It is also recommended that the selected works represent different literary periods.
It is recommended to read introductions and / or afterwords.
The choice between the various existing editions is free as long as they are integral versions.
One can read these works in German or in translation.
A) at least on of the following dramas (here listed in a chronological order):
- G.E. Lessing, "Emilia Galotti"
- J.M. Lenz. "Die Soldaten"
- G.E. Lessing, "Nathan der Weise"
- F. Schiller, "Kabale und Liebe"
- J.W. Goethe, "Iphigenie auf Tauris"
- L. Tieck, "Der gestiefelte Kater"
- F. Schiller, "Maria Stuart"
- F. Schiller, "Wilhelm Tell"
- H.v. Kleist, "Penthesilea"
- H.v. Kleist, "Prinz Friedrich von Homburg"
B) at least on of the following naratives (here listed in a chronological order):
- Ch.M. Wieland, "Musarion oder Die Philosophie der Grazien"
- J.W. Goethe, "Die Leiden des jungen Werther"
- J.W. Goethe, "Wilhelm Meisters Lehrjahre"
- L. Tieck, "Der blonde Eckbert"
- F. Hölderlin, "Hyperion oder der Eremit in Griechenland"
- J.W. Goethe, "Die Wahlverwandtschaften"
- A.v. Chamisso, "Peter Schlemihls wundersame Geschichte"
- E.T.A. Hoffmann, "Der goldene Topf"
- E.T.A. Hoffmann, "Der Sandmann"
- J.v. Eichendorff, "Aus dem Leben eines Taugenichts"
3) FAUST
- An anthology of texts and materials on the myth of Faust and its literary will be made available (MyAriel).
- J.W. Goethe: Introduzione e prefazione di Italo Alighiero Chiusano.
Traduzione, sommario e note di Andrea Casalegno. Milano, Garzanti, various editions.
IMPORTANT: It is mandatory to use this annotated edition of the text, which each student must use — in all its parts (text and paratexts) — during lessons, for study, and in the exam. Students attending the course will be examined on the parts of the work covered in class, along with the related paratexts. Non-attending students must prepare the entire work (Urfaust - Faust I - Faust II - introductions, commentary, notes).
Programme for non-attending students
The attendance of the course is highly recommended as it is one of the compulsory exams for those who study German Language and Literature in the context of Foreign Languages and Literatures.
During office hours, non-attending students (i.e. those who do not attend at all and those who attend less than 75% of the lessons) will be given further directions for the preparation of the exam.
In any case, it is foreseen for non-attendants:
- the extension of the number of individual readings to at least four works (2 of the first group, 2 of the second group, all by different authors). Any further specific materials intended for non-attending students will be made available on ARIEL.
For the rest, the program coincides with that of attending students (the possibility of taking partial tests after taking practical classes in remote teaching is also offered to non-attending students)
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam (written test + interview) has to be taken entirely in a single term.
Partial tests at the end of each term enable to avoid the written test (part 1) and take directly to the interview (which is focused only on part 2 and 3 of the syllabus).
Both written test and interview are in Italian, overall reference to original texts and basic knowledge of literary terms in German is requested too.
The exam consists of a preliminary written test (literary history, close reading of selected texts) which gives access to an oral test on the contents of the scheduled entire readings.
The exam aims to test knowledge and skills obtained during the entire course (frontal lessons, blended learning, individual study).
International or Erasmus incoming students are invited to contact the professor (mail; office hours). The examination procedures for students with disabilities and / or with DSA must be agreed with the professor, in agreement with the competent Office.
Partial tests at the end of each term enable to avoid the written test (part 1) and take directly to the interview (which is focused only on part 2 and 3 of the syllabus).
Both written test and interview are in Italian, overall reference to original texts and basic knowledge of literary terms in German is requested too.
The exam consists of a preliminary written test (literary history, close reading of selected texts) which gives access to an oral test on the contents of the scheduled entire readings.
The exam aims to test knowledge and skills obtained during the entire course (frontal lessons, blended learning, individual study).
International or Erasmus incoming students are invited to contact the professor (mail; office hours). The examination procedures for students with disabilities and / or with DSA must be agreed with the professor, in agreement with the competent Office.
Modules or teaching units
Part A and B
L-LIN/13 - GERMAN LITERATURE - University credits: 6
Lessons: 40 hours
Professor:
Castellari Marco
Part C
L-LIN/13 - GERMAN LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor:
Apostolo Stefano
Professor(s)