This module introduces you to major issues and developments in modern and contemporary German History and Culture. It provides the foundations for all further studies in German history, literature, society and culture in year two, the intercalary year abroad, and the final year. The module is structured in two parts.

PART TWO: German Culture and Literature from the Age of Enlightenment to Expressionism (Helga Eckart, spring semester):

The culture component introduces the major cultural developments in German-speaking countries from the Age of Enlightenment to the first decades of the twentieth century.  The respective literary periods are studied by examining a series of landmark stories and poems by famous writers, which will be analysed in their relevant historical, social and cultural context. The module will additionally introduce techniques of textual analysis.

• Demonstrate a knowledge of various aspects of German social, political, economic and cultural history since 1945;
• Comment on major historiographical and literary debates which have dominated the study of German history and culture over the past thirty years;
• Discuss critically the historical causes and complex nature of both the division of Germany and its sudden reunification;
• Use appropriate registers when communicating knowledge and understanding of the course material;
• Analyse a story, its ideas and narrative effects;
• Relate texts to one another and their literary context;
• Deliver commentary on a poem or extract, its themes and linguistic effects;
• Show familiarity with different phases and trends in the history of German culture;
• Apply basic concepts of textual analysis; and
• Present arguments logically, drawing on secondary reading.

The module is taught by means of weekly lectures accompanied by fortnightly seminars and regular feedback.  Please bear in mind that learning is an active process, requiring not only the acquisition of knowledge but also the exchange of ideas, opinions and arguments with others. It is therefore essential that you do all the reading for the seminars: the essential preparatory reading will be provided on Learning Central. To facilitate your preparations, lectures will be complemented by relevant film screenings. You will have the opportunity to receive continuous feedback throughout the semester.  Please make use of our weekly office hours – they are reserved for you!

PART TWO:

Students will sit an exam during the Spring examination period.  There will be a revision component in the final lecture and guidance on how to prepare for the exam will be given throughout the semester. Past exam papers are available for consultation on the university website.  Lectures will be held in English, accompanied by powerpoint presentations in German to increase language proficiency in general, and familiarity with relevant terminology in particular.  One of the seminar groups will be offered in German, the other in English.

On completion of this module a typical student will be able to:

Personal transferable skills:

·         Communicate ideas effectively and fluently, both orally and in writing as appropriate.

·         Use communications and information technologies for the retrieval and presentation of information.

·         Work independently, demonstrating initiative, self-organisation and time-management.

·         Collaborate with others and contribute to the achievement of common goals.

·         Close reading.

·         Critical thought.

·         Basic research skills.

·         Organisational skills.

·         Study skills.

·         Writing skills.

Generic intellectual skills:

·         Gather, organize and deploy evidence, data and information from a variety of sources.

·         Develop a reasoned argument, synthesize relevant information and exercise critical judgement.

·         Reflect on his or her own learning and make use of constructive feedback.

·         Manage his or her own learning self-critically.

The generic skills will be manifest in the following activities: literature searches on the internet (library), compilation of bibliographies for essays, and presentation of written work.

2 hour written exam - Spring Semester, 100%

PART TWO:

Lectures

• Introduction; The Age of Enlightenment (“Die Aufklärung”)
• Storm & Stress/Classicism (“Sturm und Drang”/”Die Klassik”)
• Romanticism I (“Die Romantik” I)
• Romanticism II (“Die Romantik II)
• Reading Week
• Literature and Culture from 1800-1850 (“Literatur und Kultur von 1800- 1850”) Biedermeier, Vormärz und Junges Deutschland
• Literature and Culture  from 1850 to 1900 (“Literatur und Kultur von 1850 bis 1900) Realism and Naturalism
• The turn of the century 1900 (Die Jahrhundertwende) Literature, life and social values in the ‘Kaiserreich’
• Expressionism I (“Der Expressionismus” I)
• Expressionism II (“Der Expressionismus” II)
• Revision

Seminars

• Kleist, “Das Erdbeben in Chili”
• E.T.A. Hoffmann, „Der Sandmann“;2 fairy tales
• Arthur Schnitzler, Lieutenant Gustl (text available: http://gutenberg.spiegel.de/buch/leutnant-gustl-5342/1
• Hofmannsthal, „Ein Brief“; selected poems
• Kafka, „Die Verwandlung“

PART TWO:

Primary texts:

Every student must bring a copy to the respective seminars (available at Blackwells Book Store; alternative formats are available on Learning Central)

Supplementary text (a dual-language paperback edition containing the first two of the stories):

• Stanley Applebaum's Five Great German Short Stories (ISBN-13: 978-0486276199)

PART TWO:

Recommended further reading:

• Bernd Schurf and Andrea Wagener (eds), Deutschbuch Literaturgeschichte (Berlin: Cornelsen, 2010).

Recommended films:

• Goethe! (Young Goethe in Love) (2010)
• Der Sandmann (Lingua Video) (2012)

See also the film recommendations above (Part One).