Saint-Louis University - Bruxelles
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GERM1262 - German : History of literature and analysis of texts II



Credits : 5

Lecturers :
Mode of delivery :
Face-to-face , second term, 60 hours of theory and 30 hours of exercises.

Timetable :
Second term
Tuesday from 10:45 to 12:45 at 109 Marais 310
Thursday from 10:45 to 12:45 at 109 Marais 510
Thursday from 13:30 to 15:30 at 109 Marais 510

Language of instruction :
German

Learning outcomes :
At the end of the course, students should be able to

- define a concept of « History of Literature » and question the methodical bases of a German History of Literature ;
- identify and describe the major literary movements of a specific period in the German-speaking countries (Germany, Austria, Switzerland);
- contextualise and discuss in depth literary texts and the major authors belonging to that specific period;
- to produce a structured, well-argued discourse that integrates the specific vocabulary and concepts used in literary studies;
- to analyse a literary text using the knowledge acquired through the course.


Prerequisites :
For the Bachelor in Modern Languages and Letters: German, Dutch and English :


Co-requisites :
None

Course contents :
This course combines an initiation to the critical reading and literary analysis of texts with a historical overview of German-speaking literature.
The first part of this course offers an initiation to the basic terms and methods of literary analysis through the in-depth analysis of major German authors of the 20th and 21st Century, taking into account the most important influences (society, comparative literature, period, etc.). At the end of the course, students should be able to recognise, analyse and contextualize the works of the chosen authors. They should be able to write a scientific essay about one chosen work and present this work in front of the class in German.

The second part of this course gives an overview of German-speaking literature from 1900 until today.

In 2019-2020, the students who have already followed the sessions devoted to the history of German literature from 1. the Enlightenment to the the Weimar Classics and 2. from 1800 to 1900, will follow a course about German literature from Middle Ages until the Baroque era.


Planned learning activities and teaching methods :
On the one hand, ex cathedra lecture completed by readings that are commented and discussed in class. On the other hand, starting from on case studies and discussions between professor and students, the course aims to introduce students to the major theoretical and methodological tools of scientific analysis of German literary texts on emphasizing on one major author. Bloc2 students are asked to respond in a way that is both creative and critical to readings of texts belonging to different genres. They are also asked to give a presentation and to submit a written text of this presentation in correct German.
Bloc3 students who attend this course have to write a scientific essay of 10 pages.


Assessment methods and criteria :
a) Analytical part (50%)

- Written exam on the sessions devoted to the critical reading and literary analysis of the chosen author. (70%)
- Presentation of one work of an author discussed in class and submission of the written version of the presentation in correct German. (30%).

b) Historical part (50%)

Oral exam about the historical part of the course (50%)

c) The tutor prepares his own exam which will be taken into account for 30% of the global mark.



Recommended or required reading :
a) Analytical part :

A bibliography with the main references is included in the reading portfolio.


b) Historical part :

- Manfred Mai, Geschichte der deutschen Literatur, 2006², Weinheim / Basel: Beltz & Gelberg
- Volker Meid, Das Reclam-Buch der deutschen Literatur, Stuttgart: Reclam, 2004.
- Gerald Rainer, Norbert KERN, Eva RAINER, Stichwort Literatur. Geschichte der deutschsprachigen Literatur. Linz: Veritas 2009.
- Hans Gerd Rötzer, Geschichte der deutschen Literatur, Bamberg: C.C. Buchners 2010².


Other information :
Course taught in 2020-2021 (2nd term).
Course notes (syllabus) with a course plan, the reading portfolio.
PowerPoint presentations available on Moodle.

This course includes 30 hours of tutoring in form of workshops. These sessions are meant to help students become familiar with the texts and basic terms and methods thanks to activities in which the texts discussed in class are approached from a different angle, but also writing tasks and short presentations similar to the exam. Translation into French will be used as a tool to help students understand difficult texts in German.

Students must take this course during even academic years (2020-2021, 2022-2023, etc.).