GERM-UA 152

Introduction to German Literature

Spring 2016
T/R 9:30-10:45
NYU Silver Center 508

Prof. Doreen Densky

doreen.densky@nyu.edu
19 University Place, Room 325
Office hours: T 11-12 & by appointment

Prerequisite: successful completion of Intermediate German II, Intensive Intermediate German, or

approval by the director of the language program. It is recommended (but not required!) that you have
taken another 100-level course in German, such as GERM-UA 111 Conversation & Composition.

Course Description
This course has two major goals. First, it introduces students to a selection of representative authors
and exemplary texts of German-language literature from the 18th to the 21st century. Second, it helps
students develop close and critical reading skills while they learn to express their analysis of literary texts
in German, both in speaking and in writing. Covering the three major literary genres – poetry, prose,
drama – some of the following issues will be discussed: the depiction of otherness; the representation
of time and history; the uncanny; the relationship between form and content; the economy of human
relationships on the basis of hierarchy, love, and authority.

Course Materials
Book to purchase, available at the NYU Bookstore at 726 Broadway (as background reading in English):
•   Boyle, Nicholas. German Literature: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford University Press, 2008.
(ISBN: 0199206597 / 978-0199206599)
Other required material:
•   The course reader with all literary texts in German is available for $10 at Advanced Copy Center,
Inc., 552 LaGuardia Place (between Bleecker & West 3rd St., one block South of Bobst Library).
•   A comprehensive, bilingual dictionary.
Students enrolled in the class are automatically granted access to the NYU Classes course website. Here
you will have access to the most updated version of the syllabus, all handouts distributed in class, and
announcements of any kind.

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 Requirements and Grading
Regular attendance, class preparation, and active class participation (20%)

Regular attendance and on-time arrival to class are mandatory. You must contact me ahead of time in
case you need to miss a class due to illness (documented by a note from NYU health services or a
physician) or religious observance. Note that it is your responsibility to make up for all missed work.
More than one unexcused absence will negatively affect your final grade.
Class preparation includes:
•   reading the assigned texts carefully, making sure you understand the material to the best of your
ability (if you struggle with something after having tried, don’t hesitate to bring this up at the
beginning of class—you are likely not the only one!);
•   actively working with the material by keeping a vocabulary list with words and expressions; and
•   writing down at least two questions and/or comments that you think would contribute to a
productive discussion and deepen our understanding of the text at hand.
Be sure to bring all your materials to class!

Active class participation, which is critical to honing your interactive skills and conversation ease in
German, means sharing your thoughtful questions and comments with the entire class.

Introduction of one author, text segment, or period (10%)

Starting from the third week, each student will present either as a group member or individually on a
topic related to our syllabus. Individual presentations should last 5-7 minutes. You will also provide
discussion questions and lead a part of the class discussion.

Response papers and exercises (30%)

Five response papers, occasional short quizzes and exercise are required over the course of the
semester.

Midterm exam (20%)

Final paper, 5-7 pages (20%)

Guidelines for each assignment will be given in advance. All papers should be typed, double-spaced, in
12-point font, and with one-inch margins. No late work will be accepted.

Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is very important to me, and I fully support NYU’s academic integrity guidelines.
While it is permissible, even advisable, to collaborate on ideas, breaches of the university’s academic
integrity guidelines are taken extremely seriously and will result in consequences, including potential
failure of the course.

For a complete description of the academic integrity expectations and standards at NYU, see
https://www.nyu.edu/about/policies-guidelines-compliance/policies-and-guidelines/academic-
integrity-for-students-at-nyu.html.

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 Semesterplan (Subject to change)

Datum Thema und Lektüre Aufgaben

1.Woche Einführung Materialien besorgen

Di., 23.1. Martin Luther (1483-1546): „Vom Frosch und der Maus“

Do., 25.1. Andreas Gryphius (1616-1664): „Es ist alles eitel“ Hintergrund: Boyle:
„The laying of the
foundations“

2.Woche Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832): „Willkommen Hintergrund: Boyle:

Di., 30.1. und Abschied“ „The age of idealism”
1781-1832“
Do., 1.2. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: „Prometheus“

3.Woche Friedrich Schiller (1759-1805): „Der Handschuh“ 1. Lesereaktion fällig

Di., 6.2. Friedrich Hölderlin (1770-1843): „Hälfte des Lebens“

Do., 8.2. Johann Peter Hebel (1760-1826): „Unverhofftes

Wiedersehen“

4.Woche Heinrich von Kleist (1777-1811): „Das Bettelweib von

Di., 13.2. Locarno“

Do., 15.2. Ludwig Tieck (1773-1853): „Der blonde Eckbert“

5.Woche Ludwig Tieck: „Der blonde Eckbert“ 2. Lesereaktion fällig

Di., 20.2.

Do., 22.2. Ludwig Tieck: „Der blonde Eckbert“

6.Woche Georg Büchner (1813-1837): Woyzeck Hintergrund: Boyle:

Di., 27.2. „The age of materialism“
1832-1914“

Do., 1.3. Georg Büchner: Woyzeck

7.Woche Georg Büchner: Woyzeck Midterm (Interviews)

Di., 6.3.

Do., 8.3. Theodor Storm (1817-1888): „Hyazinthen“

Gottfried Keller (1819-1890): „Die Zeit geht nicht“,
„Abendlied“

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 8.Woche
Spring break
Spring break

9.Woche Rainer Maria Rilke (1875-1926): „Der Panther“, Hintergrund: Boyle:

Di., 20.3. „Das Karussell“ „Traumas and memories“
Else Lasker-Schüler (1869-1945): „Weltende“ (I, 120-142)
Jakob van Hoddis (1887-1942): „Weltende“
Gottfried Benn (1886-1956): „Kleine Aster“

Do., 22.3. Thomas Mann (1875-1955): „Der Tod in Venedig“

10.Woche Thomas Mann: „Der Tod in Venedig“ 3. Lesereaktion fällig

Di. 27.3.

Do., 29.3. Thomas Mann: „Der Tod in Venedig“

11.Woche Franz Kafka (1883-1924): „Das Urteil“

Di., 3.4.

Do., 5.4. Franz Kafka: „Das Urteil“

12.Woche Franz Kafka: „Ein Bericht für eine Akademie“ 4. Lesereaktion fällig
Di., 10.4.

Do., 12.4. Kurt Schwitters (1887-1948): „An Anna Blume“

Erich Kästner (1899-1974): „Eine sachliche Romanze“

13.Woche Bertolt Brecht (1898-1956): „An die Nachgeborenen“ Hintergrund: Boyle:

Di., 17.4. Günther Eich (1907-1972): „Inventur“ „Traumas and memories”
Paul Celan (1920-1970): „Todesfuge“ (II, 142- 159)

Do., 19.4. Heinrich Böll (1917-1985): „Mein teures Bein“ 5. Lesereaktion fällig
Ingeborg Bachmann (1926-1973): „Böhmen liegt am Meer“

14.Woche Ilse Aichinger (geb. 1921): „Spiegelgeschichte“

Di., 24.4.

Do., 26.4. Emine Sevgi Özdamar (geb. 1946): „Der Hof im Spiegel“

15.Woche Emine Sevgi Özdamar: „Der Hof im Spiegel“

Di., 1.5. Yoko Tawada (geb. 1960): Abenteuer der deutschen Grammatik
(Auszug)

Do., 3.5. Abschlussdiskussion Abschlussarbeit fällig

(Datum TBA)