LETTERATURA TEDESCA DELL’ETÀ DI GOETHE

The course aims at focusing on some relevant literary phenomena, which have taken place during what is called “the Time of Goethe” (approximately from 1750 until 1830), concentrating mainly on the origins of Romanticism.

Main targets are:

1. To gain competence about German literary history, literary genres, authors, and cultural contexts.

2. To display a conceptual understanding and a basic methodological competence about established techniques of research and their use.

3. To display competence in research by applying an existing body of

knowledge in the critical analysis of given texts or of a specific problem or issue.

4. To display intellectual independence, exercise initiative, personal responsibility and decision-making.

5. Communicate ideas, issues, and conclusions clearly.

The course will be divided into two parts:

     1)    a series of lessons will be devoted to some general topics, motivs, methodologies regarding German arts and literature in the time between 1750 and 1830.

     2)    a series of lessons will be devoted to the discussion with the students taking part to the lessons about the literary texts listed in the programm. Each reading text will be presented by a group of students and discussed with the teacher and the class.

A) History and Literature in the time of Goethe

The course will refer to the use of a book about the history of literature with a specific cultural approach and with a focus on some relevant motifs of the “Age of Goethe” (book in section A).

B) Main Motifs and Topics

The course will point out some main topics and motifs relevant to the literary works of the time (book in section B).

C) Innovation and Tradition

Genres and style as vehicle of innovation and tradition in their formal aspects as well as in their plot and language will be discussed after reading.

The recommended texts follow the the course content structure: A History and literature in the age of Goethe; B Motifs and main currents; C Innovation and tradition

For A : the use of a textbook that provides a valid historical outline, based on a culturalist approach and a specific analysis of some of the fundamental themes and motifs of the historical period examined accompanied by individual in-depth research on some specific authors and themes based on the readings chosen.

For B : students must read  4 works of  literature produced at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries. They can choose them from those proposed in the list (Goethe, The Sorrows of Young Werther for all, plus 3 readings of their choice from section C of the list of texts).

For C: In order to develop in the learners a conscious capacity for analysis and the application of specific interpretative methodologies, the course includes the reading of 4 critical essays (possibly relevant to the primary works chosen).

A small anthology of texts in German provided on the Studium platform will also be proposed, which it will be useful to have with you during the lessons

An optional in-progress test will be available during the lessons: The in itinere test involves individual or group work, agreed upon with the lecturer. The work will be presented orally during the lessons, will be accompanied by slides or handouts, and will deepen one or two reading texts chosen by the students.
The result of the in itinere test will be averaged when assessing the final examination.
The final examination consists of an oral interview in Italian or German (candidate's choice).