German Literature 3
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
The course is the third training phase in the specialization course in the field of German-speaking literature and is aimed at third-year students. It is organized in chronological order and includes readings of texts by authors who are part of the canon of German language literature from the period from 1924 until 1989. The course also includes historical-cultural studies, methodological and literary criticism. The objective is to develop the knowledge and skills in the field of German studies and to induce students to an autonomous interpretation of important texts in the German language of the last century.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding: Orientation in the currents and in the system of German-language literary genres of the period 1924-1989, with reference to texts in the original language and to authors representing the literary system of that period. In addition, students must achieve particular socio-political and cultural knowledge, as well as lexical, stylistic and hermeneutical understanding with reference to German studies in the original language. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding: reading skills, formal and thematic analysis and critical interpretation of literary texts of the 20th century canon. Ability of elaboration and argumentation on literary themes related to the German-speaking world based on textual readings, manuals and criticisms. Ability to link, compare and evaluate with respect to the literary system of the last century.
Lesson period: First 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
First semester
Course syllabus
The course is titled 'German Literature from the "Neue Sachlichkeit" to the Fall of the Wall (1924-1989)' and consists of the following three parts:
A: Texts, authors and literary trends from the Weimar Republic until the division of Germany (1924-1948)
B: German-language literature in Austria, Switzerland and the two Germanies (1949-1989)
C: Der Schriftsteller und die Gesellschaft: die Beispiele von Thomas Mann und Heinrich Böll
This course is devoted to the history of German-language literature from 1924 to 1989. Part A, in Italian, deals with texts, authors and trends from the Weimar Republic, the Third Reich, exile and the immediate post-World War II period. Part B, partly in German, deals with the literature of the two Germanies, as well as the main Austrian and Swiss authors from 1949 to 1989. Part C, entirely in German, focuses on the relationship between literature and society, starting with two texts by Thomas Mann and Heinrich Böll that reflect on nationalism, mass manipulation and the atrocities of war. This third part borrows from the German Literature 2 course, which means that it will be identical for both German Literature 2 and German Literature 3.
The course programme runs until September 2027.
A: Texts, authors and literary trends from the Weimar Republic until the division of Germany (1924-1948)
B: German-language literature in Austria, Switzerland and the two Germanies (1949-1989)
C: Der Schriftsteller und die Gesellschaft: die Beispiele von Thomas Mann und Heinrich Böll
This course is devoted to the history of German-language literature from 1924 to 1989. Part A, in Italian, deals with texts, authors and trends from the Weimar Republic, the Third Reich, exile and the immediate post-World War II period. Part B, partly in German, deals with the literature of the two Germanies, as well as the main Austrian and Swiss authors from 1949 to 1989. Part C, entirely in German, focuses on the relationship between literature and society, starting with two texts by Thomas Mann and Heinrich Böll that reflect on nationalism, mass manipulation and the atrocities of war. This third part borrows from the German Literature 2 course, which means that it will be identical for both German Literature 2 and German Literature 3.
The course programme runs until September 2027.
Prerequisites for admission
This course is intended for third-year students in the degree course in Foreign Languages and Literature. In order to take the exam for this course, it is necessary to have passed both the German Literature 2 and German Language 2 exams.
Erasmus or other mobility students are admitted, provided they have a sound knowledge of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century German literature, as well as Italian and German.
Erasmus or other mobility students are admitted, provided they have a sound knowledge of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century German literature, as well as Italian and German.
Teaching methods
The course adopts the following teaching methods: lectures; reading and commentary of excerpts from the works on the programme; dialogue between lecturer and students; watching, listening to and commenting on documentaries, films and audio material.
Teaching Resources
- C.M. Buglioni, M. Castellari, A. Goggio, M. Paleari, Letteratura tedesca. Epoche, generi, intersezioni. Vol. 2: Dal primo dopoguerra al nuovo millennio, Mondadori, Milano 2019, chapters 14-20.
- Anthology of texts (2025/2026) to be made available on myAriel at the beginning of the semester.
- Texts to be read in full, below.
Part A
- Anthology of texts (2025/2026)
Part B
- Anthology of texts (2025/2026)
- Thomas Bernhard, Heldenplatz, Suhrkamp BasisBibliothek, ISBN: 978-3-518-18924-5
Part C (Prof. Moira Paleari)
- Thomas Mann, Mario und der Zauberer, Frankfurt a.. M., Fischer Verlag, ISBN: 978-3-596-21381-8
- Heinrich Böll, Wo warst Du, Adam? Roman, München, dtv, ISBN: 978-3-423-00856-3
- Materials (textual analysis and critical literature) downloadable from myAriel.
For the exam, the following six texts are also to be read in their entirety in German:
Part A
- Joseph Roth, Hiob, Suhrkamp BasisBibliothek, ISBN: 978-3-518-18912-2
- Irmgard Keun, Gilgi, eine von uns, Ullstein Verlag, ISBN: 9783548073064
- Ödön von Horváth, Geschichten aus dem Wiener Wald, Suhrkamp BasisBibliothek, ISBN: 978-3-518-18826-2
Part B
- Ingeborg Bachmann, Das dreißigste Jahr, Piper, ISBN: 978-3-492-24550-0
- Christa Wolf, Der geteilte Himmel, Suhrkamp Basisbibliothek, ISBN: 978-3-518-18887-3
- Peter Weiss, Die Ermittlung, Suhrkamp Basisbibliothek, ISBN: 978-3-518-18865-1
Information for non-attending students:
The programme for non-attending students is unchanged from that for attending students. Naturally, in view of the greater difficulties involved in self-preparedness, it is recommended that non-attending students devote an appropriate amount of time to studying and processing the contents of the programme and supplement the bibliography with additional material available online or in the library.
- Anthology of texts (2025/2026) to be made available on myAriel at the beginning of the semester.
- Texts to be read in full, below.
Part A
- Anthology of texts (2025/2026)
Part B
- Anthology of texts (2025/2026)
- Thomas Bernhard, Heldenplatz, Suhrkamp BasisBibliothek, ISBN: 978-3-518-18924-5
Part C (Prof. Moira Paleari)
- Thomas Mann, Mario und der Zauberer, Frankfurt a.. M., Fischer Verlag, ISBN: 978-3-596-21381-8
- Heinrich Böll, Wo warst Du, Adam? Roman, München, dtv, ISBN: 978-3-423-00856-3
- Materials (textual analysis and critical literature) downloadable from myAriel.
For the exam, the following six texts are also to be read in their entirety in German:
Part A
- Joseph Roth, Hiob, Suhrkamp BasisBibliothek, ISBN: 978-3-518-18912-2
- Irmgard Keun, Gilgi, eine von uns, Ullstein Verlag, ISBN: 9783548073064
- Ödön von Horváth, Geschichten aus dem Wiener Wald, Suhrkamp BasisBibliothek, ISBN: 978-3-518-18826-2
Part B
- Ingeborg Bachmann, Das dreißigste Jahr, Piper, ISBN: 978-3-492-24550-0
- Christa Wolf, Der geteilte Himmel, Suhrkamp Basisbibliothek, ISBN: 978-3-518-18887-3
- Peter Weiss, Die Ermittlung, Suhrkamp Basisbibliothek, ISBN: 978-3-518-18865-1
Information for non-attending students:
The programme for non-attending students is unchanged from that for attending students. Naturally, in view of the greater difficulties involved in self-preparedness, it is recommended that non-attending students devote an appropriate amount of time to studying and processing the contents of the programme and supplement the bibliography with additional material available online or in the library.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam consists of a written and an oral part. The written part is the analysis of a short story of your choice from Ingeborg Bachmann's collection "Das dreißigste Jahr". The analysis, of a maximum of 10,000 characters, must be written autonomously, in Italian or in German, and must be handed in to Prof. Apostolo (on paper or by e-mail as a PDF file) at the latest one week before the roll call chosen for the exam.
The oral part, on the other hand, involves an interview divided into two parts, with Prof. Paleari and Prof. Apostolo, focusing on what was covered in class and on the autonomous readings. During the interview, the translation, analysis and commentary of one or more excerpts from the works in the programme will be requested. The exam will be held, at the student's choice, in Italian or German, and aims at verifying the knowledge of the texts read, the ability to contextualise authors and works, the ability to expound, the precision in the use of specific terminology, and the ability to reflect critically and personally on the themes proposed. The final grade is expressed in thirtieths, and the student is entitled to refuse it (in which case it will be recorded 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 lecturer, in agreement with the competent Office.
The oral part, on the other hand, involves an interview divided into two parts, with Prof. Paleari and Prof. Apostolo, focusing on what was covered in class and on the autonomous readings. During the interview, the translation, analysis and commentary of one or more excerpts from the works in the programme will be requested. The exam will be held, at the student's choice, in Italian or German, and aims at verifying the knowledge of the texts read, the ability to contextualise authors and works, the ability to expound, the precision in the use of specific terminology, and the ability to reflect critically and personally on the themes proposed. The final grade is expressed in thirtieths, and the student is entitled to refuse it (in which case it will be recorded 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 lecturer, in agreement with the competent Office.
L-LIN/13 - GERMAN LITERATURE - University credits: 9
Lessons: 60 hours
Professors:
Apostolo Stefano, Paleari Moira
Professor(s)