Studies in German Literature (20097)

Degree/study: Degree in Humanities
Year: 3rd-4th
Term: 2nd
Number of ECTS credits: 5 credits
Hours of studi dedication: 125 hours
Teaching language or languages: catalan
Teaching Staff: Teresa Vinardell Puig

1. Presentation of the subject

 

Literary images of the city

A study of some of the canonical texts in 19^th and 20^th centuries German Literature. The course seeks to offer a concise view of the evolution of the literary image of the city in German Literature.

Throughout the centuries, a variety of images of urban life has been formed: from the idealised view of the city, modelled according to the celestial Jerusalem that appears in the Apocalypse, to other more credible representations of the metropolis, often characterised by excess and a frenetic rhythm, by suffering or by the depersonalisation of urban life. Related to these representations, we find the figure of the observer, whether a static or an itinerant one. Besides, the buildings, the squares and the streets are also given the power to evocate memories, experiences and feelings, which turns the city into a real "place of memory" or even into a mould that organises and conforms one's own thought. Given that everything feminine is traditionally considered to be closer to nature and, therefore, away from urban order, another centre of interest will be the analysis of these images from the gender perspective.

The general goals of the course are developing the analysis and reflection skills on literary texts in general, and acquiring some basic knowledge about German literary and cultural tradition.

No knowledge of the German language is presupposed for this course.

 

2. Competences to be attained

Transferable skills

Specific competences

Instrumental skills Arguing, that is to say, defending of justifying a certain position in written and in speech. Reasoning deductively, that is, reaching a conclusion from a series of premises. Generalising, or extracting a general norm from a limited amount of data or examples. Transmitting in written and in speech, in an organised fashion, the acquired knowledge. Analysing and synthesising information from a variety of sources. Organising and planning academic work. Using previous knowledge from any learning activity. Applying knowledge to practice. Interpersonal skills Group work and meaning negotiation. Individual work. Integrating group work in the autonomous work. Interpersonally communicating within a small group and within a big group. Systemic skills Creativity. Autonomous learning and continuing training skills.

1. Know, set and interpret some of the main episodes of the historical and cultural evolution in the Germanic language area. 2. Know, set and interpret summarily some of the main works and literary movements of the German tradition. 3. Know and use case studies and the bibliography needed to address a reasonable interpretation.

3. Contents

 

Content block 1: Introduction - From the ideal city to the more colourful view of urban life.

Content block 2: The city as a school of gaze - E.T.A. Hoffmann and Rainer Maria Rilke.

Content block 3: The space of modern conscience: Georg Simmel.

Content block 4: Dissolution fantasies: Robert Walser, Jacob van Hoddis, Georg Heym and Georg Trakl.

Content block 5: Journalistic report - Joseph Roth.

Content block 6: Voices and discourses in the big city: Veza Canetti, Irmgard Keun and Alfred Döblin.

Content Block 7: Urban Spaces which articulate the memory: Marie Luise Kaschnitz.

 

 *The full version with the sections 4. Assessment, 5. Bibliography and teaching resources, 6. Methodology, and 7. Planning of activities is available in the original version

 

4. Assessment

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5. Bibliography and teaching resources

5.1. Basic bibliography

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5.2. Complementary bibliography

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5.3. Teaching resources

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6. Metodology

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7. Planning of activities

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