GERMAN LITERATURE II
Learning outcomes of the course unit
The course aims to provide to the students a general acquaintance of the
main literary phenomena of classicism and romanticism, pointing out the historical development and the estetic questions of the period that define the specific caracter of the singular work.
During the course the student will learn to recognise authors, works and
movements of classicism and romanticism and to place them into the storical and literary context. Due to the analysis of the texts the student learns the importance of the carefull reading of the text in original language that allows to identify the fundamental elements for a correct interpretation und acqires knowledge on method and means to reach the purpose. Following the model of the lessons the students acquires the method of literary analysis oft he text and its interpretation based on the historical and literary context. In this way he acquires fundamental knowledg that allows him to elaborate autonomously appropriate opinions about litaray texts.
Prerequisites
The student must have passed the exam of german Literature I.
Course contents summary
The course centres on a crucial period of german literature between the 17th and 18th century in its main currents of classicism and romanticism. After a general introduction into classicism as a european cultural fenomenon will be examined two works of Johann Wolfgang Goethe, “Iphigenie auf Tauris” and “Hermann und Dorothea”. The detailed anaysis will emphasise in form and content the aspects of classicism in german literature.
The seond part, after a general view on the genesis and the main trends of romanticism, is dedicated to the accurate study of two significant works, „Der Sandmann“ by E.T.A. Hoffmann and „Aus dem Leben eines Taugenichts“ by Joseph von Eichendorff.
The exhaustive and detailed analysis of the texts is based on general informations about the historical and political context of the period and the main questions in the field of literature and estetics.
Recommended readings
Al texts analysed during the course will be available on the internet
platform "didattica.unipr.it" of the university. An introduction into the period and its main problems as well as the authors offers „Storia della letteratura tedesca“, ed. by M. Dallapiazza and U. Kindl. Roma-Bari (Laterza). Vol. 2:
Classicism: p. 76-86
Romanticism: p 179-200
Goethe: p. 107/08, 113/114
Hoffmann: p. 219/20
Eichendorff: p. 211-13
Teaching methods
During the lessons the professor gives a general introduction into the
period and the main literary questions of the period. These informations
will be explaind in more exhaustive way during the study of the singular
works. All texts will be presented during the course in original language
through the internet platform "didattica.unipr.it" of the university.
Assessment methods and criteria
The verification of the knowledge and abilities acquired during the course
takes place during the oral exam. In this occasion the student will prove
to know the texts, the authors, the contexts and the literary and estetic
questions of the period. In specific way will be valued the capacity oft he
student to apply his knowledge acquired during the cours in the
interpretation of the text, showing to be able to exceed a merely
abstract level of knowledge.
