The Agony and the Ecstasy: The German Novel and Novella
GRST 260
Spring 2020 not offered
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| Crosslisting:
GELT 260, COL 273 |
Starting with Goethe in the 18th century, German, Austrian, and Swiss authors have made major contributions to the literary genre of the novel and the sub-genre of the novella, typically shorter than a novel and restricted to one plot line. German prose works often grapple with profound philosophical questions, particularly those that bear on the meaning of life, the relation of the individual to society and to other individuals, the character of justice, definitions of ethics and morality, the nature and calling of the artist, and the tension between thought and emotion. In this course we will read, in English translation, longer or shorter works by some of the most significant and enduring authors writing in German between the 18th and 21st centuries. Particular attention will be paid to the portrayal of social and political issues, to narrative strategies and style, and to thematic continuities in the cultures of the German-speaking regions. We will also consider the challenges of translating fiction from one language and culture to another. Several films based on works read in the course will be viewed and analyzed. Ample opportunities will be provided for writing, in both expository and creative veins, and receiving detailed feedback. |
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
HA GRST |
| Course Format: Lecture / Discussion | Grading Mode: Student Option |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: None |
Major Readings:
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, THE SORROWS OF YOUNG WERTHER
Theodor Fontane, EFFI BRIEST
Thomas Mann, DEATH IN VENICE
Franz Kafka, METAMORPHOSIS
Hermann Hesse, STEPPENWOLF
Robert Musil, THE CONFUSIONS OF YOUNG TÖRLESS
Stefan Zweig, THE POST-OFFICE GIRL
Max Frisch, HOMO FABER
Heinrich Böll, THE LOST HONOR OF KATHARINA BLUM
Peter Handke, A SORROW BEYOND DREAMS
Günter Grass, CRABWALK
Jenny Erpenbeck, THE END OF DAYS
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Examinations and Assignments:
Response papers, short papers and rewrites, final project |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
Regular attendance and participation in class discussion required.
Students who wish to read some of the works in the original German are strongly encouraged to do so. |
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