German Literature : Introduction to a Critical Approach of Literary Texts

Teacher(s)

Büssgen Antje;

Language

Deutsch

Prerequisites

Level A1 of the Common Europea Framework of Reference for Languages

Main themes

Close in-depth critical study of contemporary canonical texts. This course will introduce strudents to basics of narratology, stylistics and genre theory. Several literary texts (poems, novels, short stories, plays) will be analysed methodically.

Learning outcomes

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :
1	Acquiring a method of analysis for one or more literary genres though the analysis of canonical contamporary texts (19th, 20th, 21st century). This course will provide students with basic scholarly methods and tools enabling him/her to approach a literary text critically (poems, novels and short stories, plays).

Content

This course offers an introduction to the scientific analysis of literary texts of different genres. The aim is to explain the specific characteristics of the different literary genres (prose, poetry, drama) and to examine the type of system each genre represents for the work of an author in order to develop a topic or theme. The first sessions will therefore be devoted to the following questions: What is a literary text? In which way(s) do literary texts differ from any other type of text?

Teaching methods

Introduction to the different topics by the lecturer; literary analysis of short texts or excerpts (= required reading to be prepared individually before each class).

Evaluation methods

Continuous assessment (preparation of readings, learning of the vocabulary related to literary studies, written exercises): 30 %; final evaluation in the form of a written exam: 70 %. Regular attendance, active participation as well as the different exercises are a prerequisite for the final evaluation.

Bibliography

Benedict Jeßing / Ralph Köhnen: Einführung in die Neuere deutsche Literaturwissenschaft.4., aktualisierte und überarbeitete Aufl., Stuttgart: Metzler 2017.
Benedict Jeßing: Arbeitstechniken des literaturwissenschaftlichen Studiums. Stuttgart: Reclam 2001. 

Faculty or entity

ELAL