LETTERATURA TEDESCA DELLA MODERNITÀ

The students will acquire some knowledge about the literary history of the German-speaking lands between the end of 19th and the end of 20th century, with focus on Austrian literature. They will start to develop a critical reading approach to the literary texts in order to better understand them and place them in the right historical-cultural frame. Moreover they will understand how to recognize and analyze literary themes and motifs of the main literary movements of the period.

According to the Dublin descriptors, students, at the end of the course, will demonstrate:

1) knowledge and understanding in a post-secondary level field of study and knowing the fundamental themes in one's field of study;

2) ability to apply knowledge and understanding in order to demonstrate a professional approach and possess adequate skills both to conceive and support arguments and to solve problems in one's field of study

5) learning skills necessary to undertake subsequent studies with a high degree of autonomy.

The course will be held during the second semester.

Lessons will be three time a week.

Lectures and seminar will be held by

Prof. Dana Pfeiferová (Visiting professor) Univerisity of West Bohemia,  Plzen/Pilsen

The course will be held in German. Knowledge required: B1 level of the European Portfolio.

Concepts such as: Literature; Canon; Periodization; Text/macrotext; Interpretation/criticism; Genre/mode; Intertextuality; Character; Author; Theme/motif are considered as alr4eady aquired.

Attendance: is optional but highly recommended.

The course will provide an overview of the main themes and motifs of the German and Austrian culture between the end of the 19th century and the end of 20th century, with focus on Austrian literature. Particular attention will be paid to the analytic study of some of the most important works of the period and to their cultural contextualization.

A- History of German Literature between the end of the 19th century and the end of 20th century:

-       Viktor Žmegač, Zdenko Škreb, Ljerka Sekulić, Breve storia della letteratura tedesca. Dalle origini ai giorni nostri, Torino, Einaudi, 2000 (Chapters from the “Wiener Moderne” to the end of 20th century, circa 200 pp.). The book can be consulted at the Institute for German Literature.

-       Václav Bok, Dana Pfeiferová, Dana Šetinová, Deutschsprachige Literatur in Lesetexten, Fraus, Pilsen 1998 (pp. 55-126. The pages will be available on the platform STUDIUM)

 

B-  Choose one of the following books:

-       Claudio Magris, Il mito absburgico Torino, Einaudi, 2009 (336 pp.)

-       Grazia Pulvirenti, La farfalla accecata, Milano, Bruno Mondadori, 2008 (208 pp.).

-       Angelo Maria Ripellino, Praga magica, Torino, Einaudi, 2014 (356 pp.)

 

C – Read and analyse the following books (at least two in German, one of this must be: Franz Kafka, Die Verwandlung):

-       Hugo von Hofmannsthal, Lettera di Lord Chandos, with German parallel text, Milano, BUR, 2013 (80 pp.)

-       Thomas Mann, Morte a Venezia, Torino, Einaudi, 2015 (118 pp.).

-       Franz Kafka, La metamorfosi, Torino, Einaudi, 2010 (70 pp.).

-       Arthur Schnitzler, Doppio sogno, Milano, Adelphi, 1998 (131 pp.).

-       Ingeborg Bachmann, Malina, Milano, Adelphi 2003 (297 pp.)

-       Thomas Bernhard, Antichi maestri, Milano, Adelphi, 2019 (188 pp.)

-       Friedrich Dürrenmatt, La visita della vecchia signora, Torino, Einaudi, 1989 (85 pp.)

-       Christoph Ransmayr, Il mondo estremo, Milano, Feltrinelli, 2008 (244 pp.)

-       Josef Winkler, Natura morta, Udine, Forum Edizioni, 2007 (104 pp.)

 

D – Reader with chosen literary texts with brief introductions:

-       Václav Bok, Dana Pfeiferová, Dana Šetinová, Deutschsprachige Literatur in Lesetexten, Fraus, Pilsen 1998 (pp. 55-126. The pages will be available on the platform STUDIUM)

 

Further material will be available on the platform STUDIUM during the course.

 

Please remember that in compliance with art 171 L22.04.1941, n. 633 and its amendments, it is illegal to copy entire books or journals, only 15% of their content can be copied.

For further information on sanctions and regulations concerning photocopying please refer to the regulations on copyright (Linee Guida sulla Gestione dei Diritti d’Autore) provided by AIDRO - Associazione Italiana per i Diritti di Riproduzione delle opere dell’ingegno (the Italian Association on Copyright).

All the books listed in the programs can be consulted in the Library.

Learning Assessment Procedures

During the course, it will be possible to take part in an optional (individual or group) in-progress test that will consist of an in-depth study of a topic of the students' choice and an oral presentation relating to the chosen topic during a number of seminar days agreed with the lecturers as an exercise.
The outcome of the in itinere test will be taken into account when assessing the final examination.
The final examination consists of an oral interview in Italian or German (at the candidate's choice). If it is conducted in German, this will be taken into account positively in the assessment.
The final examination will be conducted orally. Students must demonstrate knowledge of the historical and cultural context of the period from the Fin de siècle to the end of the twentieth century. They will also have to show that they have understood the main themes addressed in the primary literature texts and be able to place them in relation to the historical-cultural context of reference, managing to draw connections between works, themes and characters and developing an autonomous critical approach.
For the assessment of the examination, account will be taken of the candidate's mastery of the content and skills acquired, linguistic accuracy and lexical propriety, as well as his or her ability to argue.

Colloquium on the syllabus (one question on the years before 1945 and one on the years after 1945 and further questions on primary literature texts).