GER 496C – Capstone Course, and Ger 596C graduate course: German Culture and Literature from 800 to 2023
INSTRUCTOR: Prof. Albrecht Classen, Dept. of German Studies, 301 Learning Services Building, Office 318; tel. 621-1395; aclassen@u.arizona.edu; aclassen.faculty.arizona.edu/
CLASS MEETINGS: Mo and Wed. 2-3:15 p.m.
Class ROOM: Edu 333
OFFICE HOURS: Tu and Thu 10a.m.-11 a.m., and any other time after an appointment (but always feel free simply to stop by at my office, LSB 318)
Course Topic: Deutsche Kultur- und Literaturgeschichte: Gespiegelt in den Balladen
Course Goal: Development of an overview of the history of German culture, literature, and history from the Middle Ages to the Twenty-First Century, using each text as a kaleidoscope to study specific cultural and historical periods. You will also achieve a high level of linguistic fluency, and the ability to situate major texts into their historical-cultural context. As the title says, this is a capstone, and the goal is to provide you with a solid understanding of the entire history of German literature from the early Middle Ages to the present, by studying exemplary texts.
For graduate students, this course will serve as a foundation for their subsequent advanced courses, establishing a deeper understanding of the major historical-cultural periods and of major literary works.
Student Learning Outcomes:
By the end of the semester,
1. students have gained a broad and solid overview of the history of German literature in its cultural and historical context
2. students have established a satisfactory comprehension of the political, physical, and cultural geography of the German speaking lands
3. students can differentiate between the various historical periods of German literature
4. students have achieved the ability to reflect orally and in writing, both in German, on the various topics covered in the course.
Diversity: “We seek to create the comprehensively engaged university with the expectation that everyone will make a contribution to inclusive excellence. Diversity and inclusiveness are core values for the University of Arizona and offer a competitive advantage in attracting faculty, staff, students and their partners. Moreover, diversity allows the institution to prepare students to be leaders in global contexts.” It is my personal goal to provide an all-inclusive classroom where everyone is equally respected and receives the same treatment and dignity, and has the same opportunity (http://diversity.arizona.edu/vision-our-campus).
Accessibility and Accommodations
At the University of Arizona,we strive to make learning experiences as accessible as possible. If you anticipate or experience barriers based on disability or pregnancy, please contact the Disability Resource Center (520-621-3268, https://drc.arizona.edu/) to establish reasonable accommodations.
For future majors/minors:
https://german.arizona.edu/declare
Grading:
Please ignore the following section for Spring 2023 semester. I used that concept the last time, but now I have a new concept for you. I kept the narrative because I might want to use it next year again.
Again, this does not apply this semester: A. 1. Weekly contributions to a city and its features, depending on your interest. You’ll become the expert on one specific aspect, whether history, art history, architecture, music, food, literature, sports, politics, infrastructure, fashion, food, animals, parks, museums, music, etc. You will create a journal entry for each city, collecting data pertaining to your own interest and reflecting on what the others have informed us about for each city. Every week or so you will give a brief presentation, contributing to the overall class discussion. Your journal should also contain brief references to the other information provided by the other groups.
Alert: you will understandably use the online material you can find; you must, however, digest it and present it in your own words as much as possible. Do not simply copy, which would be plagiarism (see below)!
A. All the diverse aspects about Fulda (for instance), B. summary, written version about your poet, biography (if it was your turn). C: a summary and further elaboration of what we have done, studied, and learned in each class (most important). So, pay attention, please, to what the other students report, ask them back, and record this also in your journal. D.: write down new words and formulate sentences. Submit 5 times per semester
(both the oral presentations every week and the final product, your journal). 30%
1. History
2. Economy
3. Art
4. Architecture
5. Literature
6. Geography
7. Sport
8. Food
9. Museums
10. Education
11. Music
12. News and media
13. Technology
14. Infrastructure (traffic)
15. Politics
16. Gesundheitswesen
In other words, one or two of you choose, for instance, music, and every time we address a new city, your job will be to assemble key components relevant for music in that city throughout the centuries. Did major composers come from there, are there important bands or musicians, does the city have a major concert hall or opera house? Share this information so that the others can enter this into their portfolio.
Do not simply rely on Wikipedia.de. Utilize the relevant sources in the library! Consult the various literary histories, the lexica, the encyclopedias, and, if possible, some of the relevant research literature. Always make sure that you add a page with the bibliography of all sources used (in German, please). For music, for instance, always consult Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart (music library).
For instance: Kassel – die Brüder Grimm, Märchen. So, we need to learn something about the genre of Märchen, about the Brüder Grimm, their work, but then also look for other writers originating from Kassel. Architecture, such as Wilhelmshoeh. We’ll read some fairy tales, then move quickly through the centuries for other works produced in Kassel, if they exist.
Please regularly consult: Literarischer Führer durch die Bundesrepublik Deutschland, herausgegeben von F. und G. Oberhauser. Frankfurt a. M.: Insel Verlag, 1974. PT163.L57 – you can read it only in the reference area on the 3rd floor and cannot check it out.
Please make sure that you do not simply copy texts from the web for your portfolio. You must express yourself in your own words.
So, in short, this is your learning experience about a city, in all of its complexity. Summary of data; not the interpretation of the texts. That will be in Section B. So separate those two sections in your book.
SPRING 2023:
The Ballad and the History of German Literature
The ballad was a new literary genre since the late 18th century, and we will trace its development from then until today. The ballad is still a lyrical poem but it deals with historical and political events. This makes it possible for us to study not only the literary text but also the cultural-historical context.
A: Journal: 30% (for each class meeting, ca. 200-300 words, reflect on what we have discussed, use new phrases or words, formulate questions, and comment on what we have learned)
B: 1 Mid-term 25%: essay questions
C: 1 Final 25%: essay questions
D: 1 oral presentation on any of the poets, ca. 10 min., with a PPP, or a poster, or however you prefer it: 5%
E: Based on your oral presentation, develop a term project, ca. 5 pp. of biographical information, and interpretation, with some visuals if available. 15%: 1. biography, 2. works, 3. interpretation, 4. bibliography (ca. 10 titles, culled from the catalog, and drawing from our library holdings; no need to engage with those studies, but provide all relevant information: name, title (italics), city: publisher, year (for books), name, “title,” journal title vol. (year): pp. You can also add illustrations or be creative in other ways. \
Here is the model (use any of the poets covered in this course: anonymous, “Hildebrandslied,” Gotthold Lessing, Wolfgang Goethe, Friedrich Schiller, Theodor Fontane, Annette von Droste-Hulsoff, Bertolt Brecht, etc (all in German):
A. name and dates of poet – 5
B. time period, describe it a little, use one of the literary histories in the library -10
C. major works -10
D. quote from one of the literary histories as to the importance of your poet -5
E. quote about the poet in German by one of the major scholars (not literary history); and give the full bibliographical information – 5
F. brief analysis of one of his/her works (ca. 100 words) -20
G. Why is this work so important for us today? (ca. 50 words) – 20
H. Portrait of the poet, online, painting, or photograph. -5
I. bibliography: use printed sources (ca. 5 titles) and an online source (use, Bibliographie der deutschen Sprache und Literatur) to collect: 5 monographs (books) and 5 recent articles (from ca. 2015 to the present (use MLA or BddSpr.). Model: Franz Schmidt, Das Werk von Goethe (Berlin: Erich Schmidt, 1999), or: Klaus Moeller, “Die Balladen von Schiller,” Neophilologus 90.4 (2005): 14-27. NOTE: first name last name, title in italics (kursiv) (city: publisher, year). – 10
J. What does this poet mean for youi? In German ca. 50 words) -10
F: possibly Extra credit: tba, April 28-29, conference
Graduate Students: I expect you to do the same work as all other students, but your journal must be on a higher level and engage with at least 4 outside sources (scholarly articles) pertaining to one of the poets/texts (one article per month). In German, of course. You ought to familiarize yourself with the various literary histories and draw your information from there as well, emphasizing, for instance, what the different approaches might be.
ATTENDANCE:
Although it is assumed that you will attend all class sessions, you are informed hereby that excessive absences will have consequences: More than two unexcused absences lead to a drop of one grade in this course, and more than four unexcused absences will lead to an automatic grade of E (failing). If justified circumstances prevent you from attending, please inform me in writing either before or after the event, and provide satisfactory documentation (e.g., doctor’s note).
Participating in the course and attending lectures and other course events are vital to the learning process. As such, attendance is required at all lectures and discussion section meetings. Absences may affect a student’s final course grade. If you anticipate being absent, are unexpectedly absent, or are unable to participate in class online activities, please contact me as soon as possible. To request a disability-related accommodation to this attendance policy, please contact the Disability Resource Center at (520) 621-3268 or drc-info@email.arizona.edu. If you are experiencing unexpected barriers to your success in your courses, the Dean of Students Office is a central support resource for all students and may be helpful. The Dean of Students Office is located in the Robert L. Nugent Building, room 100, or call 520-621-7057.
DISCUSSIONS, ACADEMIC BEHAVIOR, AND EXPECTATIONS:
Please treat each other with respect and tolerance. People do have different views and opinions, but all these can only contribute to the rich learning experience I hope you all will have in this class. You are strongly encouraged to participate in class as much as possible. The two class meetings per week will only be of profit for you if you respond to my questions and those of your classmates and contribute on your own as often as possible.
For information on the University of Arizona Policy on Threatening Behavior by Students, click on this link.
– CELL/SmartPHONES: You are not allowed to have your cell phones on during class because a ringing will disturb everyone strongly. Either turn them off or mute them. All other electronic gadgets not pertinent to this class must also be off.
SPECIAL NEEDS: Students with disabilities who require reasonable accommodations to participate fully in course activities or meet course requirements must register with the Disability Resource Center. (http://drc.arizona.edu/). Students need to submit appropriate documentation to the instructor if they are requesting reasonable accommodations.I will do everything in my power to make it possible for you to participate fully in the class.
WARNING:
If you use secondary material for your papers, make sure that you indicate clearly where you took it from. Plagiarism and cheating violate the Code of Academic Integrity. For further information, see:
http://www.library.arizona.edu/help/tutorials/plagiarism/index.html
Do not ever copy from the work produced by your classmates or by other students who might have taken this course in previous semesters. If you receive help in writing your papers, make sure that the final outcome still represents your own work. You can discuss your papers with your fellow students, but at the end, they need to consist of your own ideas and words! Be advised that the Web is a great search tool, but never, never copy from there without identifying very clearly what you used. At this point, the scholarly value of web-based material still is not totally reliable, and the chances that you might stumble upon a most dubious webpage with untrustworthy information are very high. When you quote from a secondary source, clearly identify the quote and tell the reader in a footnote where you quoted from. Every year more than 100 students at the UA are caught having committed the crime of plagiarism, resulting in penalties that could be as severe as expulsion from the University! You are smart enough not to copy from other people.
If there is any doubt in your mind whether you might commit plagiarism, see:
Plagiarism and the Web
http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/wts/plagiarism.html
If you commit plagiarism, you could either receive a 0 on your specific assignment, or an F for the entire course. Depending on the gravity of the case, you might even be expelled from the University. Every plagiarism case must be reported to the Head of my depart., to the head of your dept., and to the Dean of Students.
READING MATERIAL:
For Spring 2023: Deutsche Balladen (Mittelalter bis ca. 1750) und Deutsche Balladen (ca. 1800-1950). Bertolt Brecht (all the other sources are only additional)
4. Die deutsche Geschichte im Mittelalter – online at: http://www.stefanjacob.de/Geschichte/Unterseiten/Zeittafeln.php
6. Literaturgeschichte – knapper Ueberblick
And: A. Classen, Das deutsche Mittelalter in seinen Dichtungen. 4th rev. and expanded ed. 2009. Now available free of charge as a PDF
Deutsche Literaturepochen – Background information for each literary period
Die Geschichte der Deutschen: Sendungen des ZDF
As a replacement
SYLLABUS:
Jan. 10: Introduction. What have you learned, what major texts have you studied so far? The Ballad as an ideal genre for our purposes, the capstone experience.
Stellen Sie sich kurz vor und nennen Sie einen Text, den Sie bisher waehrend Ihres Studiums am liebsten gelesen haben. Schreiben Sie dies erst kurz auf, dann interviewen Sie die anderen im Seminar. Anschliessen hoeren wir, was jeder ueber die anderen zu sagen hat. Hausaufgabe: Beginnen Sie auch schon mit Ihrem Journal/Tagebuch, indem Sie eine ganze Seite über sich selbst schreiben, ev. auch mit Photo. Rein biographisch, wie: geboren am, in, Eltern, Geschwister, Schule, Abschluss, Hobbies, Reiseerfahrungen, spezielle Interessen, Arbeitserfahrung, etc.
Was ist ihre Lieblingsstadt in den deutschsprachigen Laendern? Wo sind Sie schon einmal gewesen? Was war besonders an der Stadt? Wenn Sie noch nicht in D oder A gewesen sind, welche Stadt wuerden Sie gerne besuchen?
Jan. 15: Besuch in der Bibliothek; wir treffen uns in der Empfangshalle des Hauptgebäudes: Literaturgeschichten, Bibliographien, Lexika, Enzyklopaedien etc.
Jan. 17: Deutsche Literaturgeschichte (link oben). Jeder waehlt eine Epoche, einen Autor, ein Werk dieses Autors und praesentiert im Seminar
Wir fangen an mit 3 Balladen, die das Motiv der Seejungfrau betreffen:
Goethe: Der Fischer (1778), Gottfried Keller: Seemaerchen (ca. 1854), Kurt Schwitter: Die Nixe (1942)
Jan. 22: Ihre Power Point Presentationen. Dann: Goethe: Der Fischer Dazu ein Video, Vertonung von Franz Schubert. Fragen zur Ballade (nicht dieses Semester: Heute beginnen wir mit unserer Staedtereise, im noerdlichen Hessen. Was wissen Sie ueber Kassel und die Brüder Grimm. Das Grimm Museum in Kassel. Märchen: Waehlen Sie ein Maerchen aus, lesen Sie es zu Hause und praesentieren Sie es in der Klasse. Wir diskutieren dann gemeinsam, was es bedeutet.)
(Nicht dieses Semester: Wir lesen: Marchen I, Märchen)
Jan. 24: Goethe: Der Fischer (1778) 1st journal is due (faellig, 5 p.m.).
Jan. 29: Zuerst Abschlussdiskussion zu Goethes Ballade. Dann lesen wir Keller. Fragen zur Ballade
Jan. 31: Diskussion: Warum ist das Wasser so faszinierend? Romantik und Wasser. Koennten Sie bitte ein Bild online vorstellen, das Wasser in der deutschen Kultur zeigt? Dann: Dadismus, jeder sucht ein Bild oder eine Collage, von Schwitter, dann diskutieren wir Kurt Schwitter: Die Nixe
Feb. 05: Hausaufgabe: Mittelalterliche _Dichter und Autoren: Fragebogen, ich verteile je 4 an Sie alle. Praesentation in der Klasse. Dann lesen wir: Hildebrandslied
Feb. 07: Hildebrandslied, Fragen zum Text
(Nicht dieses Semester, “Innsbruck, ich muss dich lassen (Wikipedia.de). Text und Vortrag (einstimmig). Vierstimmig; Komposition von J. S. Bach.
Feb. 12: Weiter mit Hildebrandslied.
Diskussionsfragen: Was ist: 1. Generationskonflikt; 2. Kommunikationskonflikt; 3. Rassenkonflikt; 4. Familienkonflikt; 5. militaerischer Konflikt; 6. Vater-Sohn/Mutter-Tochter Konflikt, oder Vater-Tochter, Mutter – Sohn? Wir brauchen Woerter wie: Einstellung, Haltung, Ueberzeugung, Mentalitaet, Wertvorstellung, Weltsicht…
(Nicht: Heidelberg. Berichte. Dann: Minnesang Mittelhochdeutsche Textauswahl:Wir lesen nur: Kurenberger
Manessische Liederhandschrift (video)
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heidelberg_in_der_Dichtung
“Ich hab mein Herz in Heidelberg verloren” (Text); Heino)
Feb. 14: Fragen zum Hildebrandslied: 1. Warum will der Vater die Ringe schenken? 2. Warum will sie der Sohn nicht annehmen? 3. Wie gestaltet sich das weitere Gespraech zwischen ihnen? 4. Warum bereitet sich Hildebrand auf den Kampf vor? 5. Wie ist der Ausgang zu denken?
Dann studieren wir: Das Juengere Hildebrandslied. Was sind die Unterschiede?
(Nein: Karoline von Gunderrode Karoline von Günderrode)
Feb. 19: Bürger: Leonore; 2nd journal (5 p.m.)
Feb. 21: weiter mit Bürger: wir werden heute eine dramatische Lesung durchfuehren.
Feb. 26 and 28: Goethe: Erlkoenig
March 02 to 10: Spring break
March 11: Friedrich Schiller: Der Handschuh
März 13: Schiller: Die Kraniche des Ibykus
Text und Erklaerungen
3rd journal (5 p.m.)
(nicht dieses Semester: Fokus: Wien, and: Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach: Krambambuli)
(nicht dieses Semester: AphorismenaphorismenAphorismen Modernere Schrift)
März 18: Schiller: Der Ring des Polykrates
März 20: Wir konzentrieren uns weiter nur auf “Der Ring” und verschieben Goethe auf den 27. Maerz: Der Zauberlehrling
März 25: Goethe, Der Zauberlehrling: Hier ein bessere Fassung
März 27 Mid-Term: Einfach wie ueblich: ein paar Essay-Fragen zu unseren Texten, die wir bisher gelesen haben. Sie haben Zeit von 14 bis 15:15 Uhr. Die Essay Fragen sind auf D2L und sind terminiert, also nur bis 15:15 offen. Bis dahin muessen Sie Ihre Aufgabe auf D2L hochgeladen haben. Ich selbst werde an diesem Tag einen Vortrag in Bullhead City halten.
April 01: Heinrich Heine: Belsazar
(nicht dieses Semester: http://digitalcampus.swankmp.net.ezproxy4.library.arizona.edu/ua338658/watch?token=5db21880b37ae75a6d2f4dc970a9bd5806f13132479d84d055a0252580683761
April 03: Annette von Droste-Hülshoff, Der Knabe im Moor
Ich werde heute abwesend sein, weil ich am 6. April in Seattle einen Vortrag halten werde. Bitte lesen Sie die Ballade, studieren Sie ein wenig die Biografie der Dichterin und beantworten Sie die folgenden Fragen, faellig am 6. April, 18 Uhr (bitte per email an mich: aclassen@arizona.edu)
- Nehmen Sie den Artikel auf wikipedia.de:
a. Wo ist Annette von Droste-Huelshoff aufgewachsen (in welcher Region Deutschlands, wo hat sie ihren Lebensabend verbracht? Muenster und Meersburg. Forschen Sie ein wenig.
b. Mit welchen Dichtern und Kuenstlern hatte sie Kontakt?
c. Warum ist das Moor so gefaehrlich? Sie brauchen nicht alle Worte im Gedicht zu verstehen, nur die Atmosphaere ist wichtig. Wovor hat der Knabe/Junge Angst?
d. Was hoert und sieht er, woran denkt er die ganze Zeit? Nur ein paar Beispiele aus dem Gedicht.
e. Stirbt er oder ueberlebt er. Was bedeutet das Moor fuer den Jungen und fuer uns?
Danke.
April 8: Vortrag ueber Heine, dann ueber Droste. Kurze Diskussion von ihrer Ballade. Darauf lesen wir: Theodor Fontane, Ballade: Brücke am Tay
April 10: Wir treffen uns in der Lobby der Hauptbibliothek, arbeiten dann im 5. Stock fuer 20 Minuten an Ihren Projekten. Dann zurueck in die Klasse. Vortrag ueber Droste, Vortrag ueber Fontane, dann: Brücke am Tay; Journal 4 (5 p.m.)
April 15: Brücke am Tay, Fragen zu Fontane
April 17: Theodor Fontane: Die Fuesse im Feuer
(Nicht dieses Semester: Nuernberg – video (Bilder, Musik, kein Sprecher
April 22: 15 Minuten: Die Fuesse im Feuer, Abschluss-Diskussion. Vortraege ueber Brecht, dann: Brecht: Legende, Brechts Ballade von Laotse
(Nicht dieses Semester: Nünberg_Hans Sachs. Der Schüler vom Paradies (in der PDF-Fassung meines Textbuches), dazu Der schoene Brunnen “Schlaraffenland”, Fastnachtspiele, Gedichte etc. Wir lesen aber nur: “Der Schuler vom Paradies” und “Schlaraffenland”
April 24: Besuch von unserer Autorin, Maria Cecilia Babetta. Bitte bereiten Sie sich gut vor, ihr zu berichten, was wir dieses Semester studiert haben. Wir fuehren einfach ein Gespraech heute.
Ich gebe Ihnen die Fragen fuer das Final (homework)
(nicht dieses Semester Werbefilm über Nürnberg (mit Ton)
April 29: Brecht: Die Loesung (nicht: Hans Magnus Enzensberger) Journal 5 (5 p.m.)
Mai 1: Wolf Biermann, Der preussische Ikarus. Final faellig, 6 Uhr, auf D2L
Project: Due on May 3, 2023 11:59 PM
ENDE DES SEMESTERS.
Danke fuer Ihre gute Mitarbeit und Ihr fleissiges Studieren. Ich hoffe, es hat Ihnen Spass gemacht.
Student Learning Outcomes; By the end of the semester, students will be able to engage critically with the history of German literature and culture, will know a solid selection of critical texts from the Middle Ages to the present, and will have acquired the skill to write about the crucial issues in solidly researched papers in German.
Web links:
The texts of Freidank and the Versmaeren
Die deutsche Literatur online: Bibliotheca Augustana
Kurt Kusenberg, “Nihilit” und “Wer ist Man?”)
Bertolt Brecht: Die Liebenden (1927). Präsentation: Bertolt Brecht: Text: An die Nachgeborenen.
Fragen zu Brechts “An die Nachgeborenen”
Augsburger Liederbuch Augsburger Liederbuch
Oswald von Wolkenstein, Kl. 18- youtube (Kl 85)
(Martin Luther – Einstieg). Frankfurt a. M.
95 Thesen im Original 95 Thesen in moderner Übersetzung
Martin Luther I Luther II Luther III (Nation)
Luthers Leben, Wittenberg, Eisleben, Eisenach
Babylonische Gefangenschaft – Text
Gnadenlehre, sola fide: Rechtfertigungslehre 1999
Goethe: Der Zauberlehrling: youtube Version auf Deutsch
Erlkönig; Schubert’s version. Classic Period: Goethe: Der König in Thule; Heidenröslein. Goethe: Schuberts Version
Panopto Video
Ramstein: Rosenrot (video). Textversion
Take a look at the Fraktur print).
Heinrich Heine: Deutschland ein Wintermaerchen
Vortrag über Romantik; und Vortrag von Heine: Die Grenadiere. Belsazar
Fragen zu Heine
Maerz: Vorbereitung auf das Mid-Term (not updated)
Althochdeutsche Literatur in Fulda: Leben im Kloster (Youtube); Hildebrandslied (in meinem Textbuch)
Fulda Stadt Video; Hrabanus Maurus, etc., die karolingische Klosterreform, Benediktiner. Wir lesen weiter das Hildebrandslied
Fragen zum Hildebrandslied
Karlsruhe: Karlsruhe, wir lesen Johann Peter Hebels Kalendergeschichten – beantworten Sie die Fragen im google doc.
Walther von der Vogelweide: “Under der linden” und “Ich saz uf eime steine” (im Textbuch). Würzburg
Balladen (Liste) Balladen (Texte)
Ruprecht von Würzburg (see in Verserzahlungen) The texts of Freidank and the Versmaeren (see under: Die getreue Kaufmannsfrau), Konrad von Würzburg (see my Textbuch under PDF, above)
(auch nicht: Bertolt Brecht: Die Liebenden (1927). Bertolt Brecht: Text: An die Nachgeborenen)
Fragen zu Brechts “An die Nachgeborenen”
Weiter mit Brecht, “Laotse” und “Die Loesung” (unter: Balladen)
Kleist-Handbuch : Leben, Werk, Wirkung / herausgegeben von Ingo Breuer.
oder Peter Nusser, Deutsche Literaturgeschichte, PT85 .N87 2012 v.2 .