GERMAN LITERATURE 2

Academic year
2025/2026 Syllabus of previous years
Official course title
LETTERATURA TEDESCA 2
Course code
LT0022 (AF:580234 AR:326306)
Teaching language
Italian
Modality
On campus classes
ECTS credits
12
Degree level
Bachelor's Degree Programme
Academic Discipline
L-LIN/13
Period
1st Semester
Course year
2
Where
VENEZIA
Moodle
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German Literature 2 aims to introduce knowledge and understanding of the main literary, cultural and historical phenomena at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries.
The objectives of the course are 1) a solid knowledge of some of the main texts of German-language literature of the period between the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries (for a more detailed description of the programme, see the "contents" section); 2) the ability to understand the specific historical and cultural context to which the works analysed refer 3) the ability to acquire and apply adequate critical tools in the analysis of the narrative texts indicated, on a thematic and stylistic-formal level; 4) the ability to develop the critical tools acquired in the autonomous study of German-language narrative texts of the analysed period; 5) the ability to read, understand and translate a short passage in the original language (for a more detailed description see "reference texts").
There are no prerequisites; knowledge of the contents of the German literature courses foreseen for the previous years in the respective curricula and subject areas is useful for successful learning.
At the turn of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, works by great authors narrate the adventures and misfortunes of masnadiers, murderers, suicides, real or presumed criminals, bring intrigues, abuses, imprisonments and trials onto the scene, and more generally question psychology and its abysses, the possibilities of art to represent them and the ability of society and public discourse to cope with them. Focusing on the intertwining of literature and psychology, the course aims to provide an overview of the period from the 1770s to the 1830s. The various literary currents of this period (Spätaufklärung and Sturm und Drang, Klassik, Romantik, Vormärz) will be addressed through the analysis of canonical and still topical texts by G. Büchner, J. W. Goethe, E.T.A. Hoffmann, J. M. R. Lenz, H. v. Kleist, K. PH. Moritz, F. Schiller, in particular: Die Leiden des jungen Werther (Goethe), Der Hofmeister, Die Soldaten (Lenz), Die Räuber (Schiller), Anton Reiser (Moritz), Michael Kohlhaas, Die Marquise von O, Das Erdbeben in Chili (Kleist), Der blonde Eckbert (Tieck), Der Sandmann, Das Fräulein von Scuderi (Hoffmann), Leonce und Lena, Woyzeck (Büchner).
a.
Georg Büchner: Woyzeck;
Georg Büchner: Leonce und Lena;
Johann Wolfgang Goethe: Die Leiden des jungen Werther;
E.T.A. Hoffmann: Der Sandmann;
E.T.A. Hoffmann: Das Fräulein von Scuderi;
Heinrich von Kleist: Michael Kohlhaas, Die Marquise von O, Das Erdbeben in Chili;
J.M.R. Lenz: Der Hofmeister oder die Vorteile der Privaterziehung;
J.M.R. Lenz: Die Soldaten;
Karl Ph. Moritz: Anton Reiser. Ein psychologischer Roman;
Friedrich Schiller: Die Räuber;
Ludwig Tieck: Der blonde Eckbert.
(for all works: Reclam edition)

b.
La letteratura tedesca. epoche, generi, intersezioni. Dal Medioevo al primo Novecento, a cura di Chiara Buglioni, Marco Castellari, Alessandra Goggio e Moira Paleari, Mondadori, Milano 2019, vol. 1, p. 65-292 and 312-326.
The examination will consist of a 20/30-minute interview aimed at testing:
- your ability to read and understand the texts in German in the syllabus;
- the work done on the topics covered during the course and the texts in the bibliography.

written
In order to pass the examination, it is necessary to obtain a sufficient mark in each of the two parts indicated, which will be assessed with points from 0 to 15 each. Sufficiency will be obtained with elementary competence and in the absence of serious errors and gaps, additional points will be obtained according to the breadth of knowledge and the quality of argumentation and exposition. Honours will be awarded where there is an excellent level of knowledge and understanding with reference to the syllabus, judgement and communication skills.
Lectures in Italian and invitation to discussion.
There will also be a dedicated moodle platform, which will be used to upload insights and materials and to communicate with the students.
Support lectures by a specialist tutor will be dedicated to the preparation of the readings in German (to be confirmed).

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Poverty and inequalities" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development

This programme is provisional and there could still be changes in its contents.
Last update of the programme: 05/06/2025