German 3310: Survey of German Literature
MWF 2:00-2:50
GC 109
Professor James W. Harrison
harrison@suu.edu
Office Hours: TR 2:00-4:00; W 3:00-4:00 or by appointment
Office: GC 108 B
Phone: 435-586-7958
Lab fee $8 (included in the fees you paid for this class)
Texts: Gudrun Clay, 1000 Jahre deutsche Literatur; Maierhofer & Klocke, Deutsche Literatur im Kontext
1750-2000. Both of these texts are published by Focus Publishing/R. Pullins Company, PO Box 369,
Newbury port, MA 01950.
Course Objectives:
This course is designed to give those unfamiliar with the history of German literature a bird’s eye view of
the subject. We will look at the earliest German writings and survey all the periods up to the post World
War II period.
Expectations:
I will expect you to keep up with the syllabus, especially the readings in the texts mentioned above and
the other works which we will read during the semester. I will expect you to know these works well
enough when you come to class that you can participate in class discussions concerning them. I will
expect that at the end of the semester you will have a good feel for the complete spectrum of German
literature.
Student Learning Outcomes:
When students complete this class, they will be able to
•
•
•
Give a reasonable summary of the various movements in German literature from the middle
ages up to the 20th century,
Understand how German literature fits into the broader topic of German cultural history,
Understand the characteristics of the various movements and how they relate to the historical
events in which they occurred.
These abilities will support the following learning outcomes of SUU:
•
•
Gain knowledge of human cultures,
Gain personal and social responsibility, particularly intercultural knowledge and competence,
•
Gain intellectual and practical skills, particularly in written and oral communication.
Participation:
The only way to really engage any of the works we read in class is to discuss them as a class,
realizing that the works will not affect everyone the same way. While your impressions and feelings
about the works are very important, so are those of your classmates. Frequently we learn the most
from people who disagree with us most vehemently. Therefore, we need to agree at the beginning of
the semester that everyone’s view should be heard and objectively considered, and that everyone needs
to be able to defend her/his views by appealing to the text.
Homework:
I will expect you all to keep up with the syllabus. Some of you who feel less comfortable reading
German will be able to find a number of excellent helps on the internet in English. Please try your
hardest to work through most of the German readings in the two texts. As far as the complete works
which we will read, there are plenty of good English translations available, if you feel you need some
special help with some of the passages in German. Some of the texts I have assigned I did not order
because they can be found complete on the internet in both German and English formats. When a text
appears with (internet) behind it, then you will know that you will be able to find it on the internet. If
you have problems with that, please let me know and I’ll give you a hand.
Tests and Quizzes:
There will be a midterm and final examination. In addition there will be reading quizzes on all the texts
we read this semester. These are marked on your syllabus with three asterisks. So on September 4, for
example, we will have a quiz on Hartmann’s “Der arme Heinrich”. In addition to these items I will ask all
of you to write a 5-7 page final paper on one of the works we have read this semester.
Evaluation and Assessment:
Grades will be calculated by averaging the following grades: midterm, final, average of the reading
quizzes and the paper. These will all be weighted equally.
Tutoring: While there is no tutor for this class, please know that I would be more than happy to meet
with you in my office concerning any questions you may have. If there is anything that is unclear or
confusing, please don’t hesitate to come in and visit with me.
Fall Semester 2015
August
September
German 3310
24 Introduction
26 The Early Germans (I, 3-27)
28 The German Empire(s) of the Middle Ages (I, 37-53)
31 High Middle Ages (I, 59-88)
2 Courtly Love and Minnesang; Arthurian Literature
4 ***Hartmann von Aue, Der arme Heinrich (internet)
7 Labor Day
9 ***Hartmann, Erec
11 Gottfried von Strassburg; Wolfram von Eschenbach
14 Late Middle Ages (I, 91-126)
16 Conclusion of the Middle Ages
18 Reformation (I, 131-165)
21 Luther
23 *** Luther, An den Christlichen Adel deutscher Nationen (internet)
25 Effects of the Reformation and Beginnings of the Baroque
October
28 Thirty Years War and the Baroque (I. 169-201)
30 The Rise of Prussia
2 Enlightenment (l. 203-245)
5 ***Lessing, Nathan der Weise
7 18th Century (II, 1-24)
9 Empfindsamkeit and Sturm und Drang
12 From Sturm und Drang to the Classical Period (II, 25-44)
14 ***Goethe, Faust I
16 Faust (cont.)
19 Fall Break
21 Romantic Period (II, 45-64)
23 ***Tieck, Der blonde Eckbert (internet)
26 Midterm
28 ***Kleist, Das Erdbeben in Chile (internet)
30 19th Century (II, 65-104)
November
2 Naturalism (II. 105-123)
4 20th Century; ***Gerhart Hauptmann, Bahnwärter Thiel
6 Hauptmann (cont.)
9 ***Hesse, “Der Waldmensch” (I will get a copy of this to you.)
11 20th Century (II. 125-297) ***Thomas Mann, Tonio Kröger
13 Thomas Mann (cont.)
16 ***Franz Kafka, Die Verwandlung (internet))
18 Literature of Weimar and after
20 *** Brecht, Das Leben des Galilei (internet—English only)
23 Brecht (cont.)
25 Thanksgiving
27 Thanksgiving
December
30 Max Frisch, Biedermann und die Brandstifter (internet—English only)
2 Frisch (cont.)
4 Summary
10 Final Examination 1:00-2:50