Provides a critical overview of literary and intellectual currents of the “modern” period; explores the changing status and social function of literature.
Fall 2025
Instructor: Prof. Albrecht Classen, aclassen@email.arizona.edu, 318 LSB
Course Content: We will examine a wide range of texts from the Middle Ages to the late 20th century in which the individual struggles within his/her society, with the dominant values, and the ideals as they clash with reality.
Course Objective:
Discussion and exploration of a variety of major texts in the history of German literature from the late Middle Ages to the early twentieth century in which individuals struggle to come to terms with their social and cultural conditions and at times revolt against the political and military structures.
Expectations:
Active participation: 20%
Reading of the assigned texts: 20%
Presentation of a topic (PPT): 20%
Term paper, based on your own research: 40%
Reading material:
Bernhard Schlink, Der Vorleser
Kurt Kusenberg, “Nihilit” und “Wer ist Man?”
Bertolt Brecht, “Fragen eines lesenden Arbeiters”
Brecht, Kinderhymne und Bei der Lektüre eines sowjetischen Buches
Heinrich Heine: Deutschland ein Wintermaerchen
Vortrag über Romantik; und Vortrag von Heine: Die Grenadiere.
Karoline von Gunderrode Karoline von Günderrode
Goethe, Der Zauberlehrling, Rap Version
Goethe, Faust; http://www.gutenberg.org/files/21000/21000-h/21000-h.htm (Links to an external site.)
Heinrich von Kleist: Michael Kohlhaas: https://imwerden.de/pdf/kleist_michael_kohlhaas.pdf
Friedrich Klopstock, “Die Frühlingsfeier”
Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, Nathan der Weise
Konrad von Würzburg: „Heinrich von Kempten.
Wernher der Gärtner, Helmbrecht: https://archive.org/details/meierhelmbrechtvesper/page/10/mode/2up
Walther von der Vogelweide, Reichssprüche: http://www.fabelnundanderes.at/reichsklage.htm