Scribd
Upload
167 views14 pages

Understanding Expressionism in Literature

Expressionism was a modernist movement that originated in Germany in the early 20th century. It was characterized by a focus on deep psychological processes, a rejection of rationalism and positivism, and the use of experimental styles and imagery. Major expressionist authors in German literature included Georg Trakl, whose poems explored tragic themes through metaphor, and Georg Geim, whose works depicted nightmarish visions of the capitalist city. Other prominent expressionist writers were Bertolt Brecht, Franz Kafka, Alfred Döblin, Georg Kaiser, and Reinhart Sorge. Expressionist literature aimed to convey subjective inner experiences rather than objectively observe reality.

Uploaded by

Дарья Обуховская
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
167 views14 pages

Understanding Expressionism in Literature

Expressionism was a modernist movement that originated in Germany in the early 20th century. It was characterized by a focus on deep psychological processes, a rejection of rationalism and positivism, and the use of experimental styles and imagery. Major expressionist authors in German literature included Georg Trakl, whose poems explored tragic themes through metaphor, and Georg Geim, whose works depicted nightmarish visions of the capitalist city. Other prominent expressionist writers were Bertolt Brecht, Franz Kafka, Alfred Döblin, Georg Kaiser, and Reinhart Sorge. Expressionist literature aimed to convey subjective inner experiences rather than objectively observe reality.

Uploaded by

Дарья Обуховская
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

EXPRESSIONISM IN

LITERATURE
Daria Obukhovskaya 606
DEFINISHION
 Expression - the literary-artistic flow of
modernism, which was formed in Germany at
the beginning of the 20th century. It had his
followers in France, Austria, Poland, and
German-speaking Switzerland.
CHARACTERISTICS OF STYLE IN
LITERATURE
 Interest in deep psychic processes;
 denial of both positivism and rationalism;
 updating of formal-stylistic means, artistic
imagery and expressiveness, sometimes
incompatible with each other, such as deep
lyricism and all-embracing pathos;
 Subjectivity and interest in a civic theme.
 Expressionism was manifested in the poetry of
German poets George Trakly (1887-1914), Franz
Werfel and Ernst Stodler (1883-1914).

George Trakly Franz Werfel Ernst Stodler


TYPICAL HERO (CHARACTER)
 A person at the time of the highest exertion.
Sadness becomes depressed, despair turns into
hysteria;
 the basic mood is extreme pain;
 lives according to the laws of his reality, not
finding himself in the real world;
 small person, depressed by the cruel social
conditions of existence, suffering and dying in a
hostile world. Heroes feel their helplessness in
front of a formidable and brutal force so much
that they cannot understand, comprehend it.
GEORG TRAKL
 In literature, expressionism was born later
than in painting, and was expressed primarily
in poetry. At its origins stood the Austrian
poet Georg Trakl (1887-1914). During his short
life, Trakl wrote two small books of poems -
"Poems" (1913) and "Dreams of Sebastian"
(1914), imbued with tragic motives. Like
expressionist artists, the poet did not seek to
reflect the reality surrounding him. “The
poetic reality” of Trakl is full of metaphors
predicting the devouring catastrophe of
mankind in a war that has not yet begun.
GEORG GEIM
 In the depiction of repulsive evil
phantasmagoria, expressionist poetry sometimes
knew no bounds. Huge Ophelia, with rats living
in matted hair, floating along the river between
the houses of crowded cities - this was how the
world saw the poet Georg Geim (1887-1912). He
was considered the leader of the so-called
“black expressionism,” which captured the
nightmares of the capitalist city of the early
twentieth century. The poet died early -
drowned in the river, falling under the ice,
which was predicted in one of his poems.
OTHER BRIGHT REPRESENTATIVES:
BERTOLT BRECHT
 As an expressionist, Berthold Brecht, who
later became a well-known playwright,
created: “Mann ist mann” “Die Heilige
Johanna der Schlachthöfe”.
FRANZ KAFKA
 Franz Kafka, the author of the novel “The
Trial” and many other works that arouse
anxiety and fear in the reader, is called the
symbol of expressionism.
ALFRED DÖBLIN
 The novel "Berlin,
Alexanderplatz" by
Alfred Döblin is one
of the five best
books in German.
GEORG KAISER
 Georg Kaiser became famous
for “GAS-ERSTER TEIL/GAS-
ZWEITER TEIL” dramaturgical
trilogy.
REINHART SORGE
 The poet and playwright Reinhart Sorge is
considered the founder of expressionist
drama (the play “The Pauper”).
CONCLUSION
 Expressionist literature is not a detached
observation from the outside, but an
irrepressible and energetic imagination, not
a passive viewing of reality, but a vision of
images in the state of passion and ecstasy.

You might also like