Contemporary German Literature
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
The course is aimed at students of all the CdS of Humanistic Studies and aims to deepen the skills in the field of German literature, in particular the modern and postmodern, in the historical-political context. This course focuses on the representation, in the German language literature of the period of National Socialism, of the Second World War and of the post-war period, taking into consideration some significant works of the last decades.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding: Guidance on the history, sources, methods and tools of literary studies and on the analytical practices of textual hermeneutics. Knowledge of various significant authors of the German-speaking literature after 1945 and of their works dealing with the representation of the period of National Socialism and the Second World War. Understanding of the theoretical-methodological and historical-cultural problems inherent in the study of contemporary German literature, with particular attention to the narrative genre. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding: ability to analyze and interpret the literary text in its historical-cultural context; ability to connect the chosen texts with the literary tradition of the twentieth century; ability to express the acquired skills with methodological rigor.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
The course is entitled "Franz Kafka's novels and short stories one hundred years after his death" and consists of the following three teaching units, which will be covered in sequence:
A: Introduction to Franz Kafka's life, works, epistolary and diaries. The unfinished novel 'Amerika'.
B: The unfinished novels "Der Prozeß" and "Das Schloß".
C: Franz Kafka's short stories in chronological order (1908-1924).
Students intending to acquire 6 CFU will stick to the syllabus of units A and B; students intending to acquire 9 CFU will stick to the complete syllabus (units A, B and C).
The course is dedicated to the figure of Franz Kafka (1883 - 1924) and all his literary works on the centenary of his death.
Unit A deals, after an introduction to the most important stages of his life, diaries and correspondence, with the first novel "Amerika".
Unit B is devoted to the unfinished novels "Der Prozeß" and "Das Schloß".
Unit C deals with Kafka's short stories in chronological order, from the first collection "Betrachtung" to the latest narrative productions.
The course program runs until February 2026. From the summer session 2026 it will only be possible to present the syllabus of the A.A. 2025-26.
A: Introduction to Franz Kafka's life, works, epistolary and diaries. The unfinished novel 'Amerika'.
B: The unfinished novels "Der Prozeß" and "Das Schloß".
C: Franz Kafka's short stories in chronological order (1908-1924).
Students intending to acquire 6 CFU will stick to the syllabus of units A and B; students intending to acquire 9 CFU will stick to the complete syllabus (units A, B and C).
The course is dedicated to the figure of Franz Kafka (1883 - 1924) and all his literary works on the centenary of his death.
Unit A deals, after an introduction to the most important stages of his life, diaries and correspondence, with the first novel "Amerika".
Unit B is devoted to the unfinished novels "Der Prozeß" and "Das Schloß".
Unit C deals with Kafka's short stories in chronological order, from the first collection "Betrachtung" to the latest narrative productions.
The course program runs until February 2026. From the summer session 2026 it will only be possible to present the syllabus of the A.A. 2025-26.
Prerequisites for admission
The course is held entirely in German. The materials and the examination bibliography presuppose solid linguistic skills. Students of Degree Courses other than Languages who do not know German or are beginners will not always be able to rely on Italian translations; therefore, if interested in the course, they will have to contact the teacher in advance to assess any adaptations to the program. Erasmus students or other forms of mobility are admitted as long as they possess solid German language skills.
Teaching methods
The course adopts the following teaching methods: lectures; reading and commenting on excerpts from the works on the program; viewing, listening and commenting on audio and video material found online.
Teaching Resources
The course has the Ariel online platform (https://fhaasltc.ariel.ctu.unimi.it/) to which reference is made for teaching materials that can be downloaded in PDF format. For each teaching unit, specific critical essays on the literary works in question will be made available on the site.
Indicated below are the critical and narrative works of mandatory reading for the various teaching units and the reference editions.
Learning Unit A
Chiara M. Buglioni, Marco Castellari, Alessandra Goggio, Moira Paleari, "German Literature. Ages, genres, intersections. Dal Medioevo al primo Novecento", Mondadori, Milan 2019, pp. 418-543 (chapters 11-13). ISBN: 9788800746809
Franz Kafka, "Amerika. Roman", Suhrkamp, Berlin 2007, ISBN: 9783518458938
Learning Unit B
Ludwig Dietz, „Franz Kafka", Metzler, Stuttgart 1990, ISBN: 9783476040879
Franz Kafka, „Der Prozeß. Roman", Suhrkamp, Berlin 2005, ISBN: 9783518456699
Franz Kafka, „Das Schloß. Roman", Suhrkamp, Berlin 2006, ISBN: 9783518458259
Learning unit C
Franz Kafka, „Die Erzählungen", Fischer, Frankfurt 2011, ISBN: 9783596903719
Notes for non-attending students
The program for non-attending students is unchanged from that for attending students. Naturally, in view of the greater difficulties arising from autonomous preparation, it is recommended that non-attending students devote an appropriate amount of time to studying and processing the contents of the program and to supplement the bibliography.
Indicated below are the critical and narrative works of mandatory reading for the various teaching units and the reference editions.
Learning Unit A
Chiara M. Buglioni, Marco Castellari, Alessandra Goggio, Moira Paleari, "German Literature. Ages, genres, intersections. Dal Medioevo al primo Novecento", Mondadori, Milan 2019, pp. 418-543 (chapters 11-13). ISBN: 9788800746809
Franz Kafka, "Amerika. Roman", Suhrkamp, Berlin 2007, ISBN: 9783518458938
Learning Unit B
Ludwig Dietz, „Franz Kafka", Metzler, Stuttgart 1990, ISBN: 9783476040879
Franz Kafka, „Der Prozeß. Roman", Suhrkamp, Berlin 2005, ISBN: 9783518456699
Franz Kafka, „Das Schloß. Roman", Suhrkamp, Berlin 2006, ISBN: 9783518458259
Learning unit C
Franz Kafka, „Die Erzählungen", Fischer, Frankfurt 2011, ISBN: 9783596903719
Notes for non-attending students
The program for non-attending students is unchanged from that for attending students. Naturally, in view of the greater difficulties arising from autonomous preparation, it is recommended that non-attending students devote an appropriate amount of time to studying and processing the contents of the program and to supplement the bibliography.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam consists of an individual interview, which includes questions asked by the teacher, interactions between the teacher and the student, and the analysis and commentary of one or more excerpts from the works in the program. The interview has a variable duration depending on the teaching units on which the student is presented and takes place (at the student's choice) in German or Italian. The interview aims to verify the knowledge of the texts read, the ability to contextualize authors and works, the ability in the exposition, the precision in the use of specific terminology, the capacity for critical and personal reflection on the proposed themes. The final grade is expressed in thirtieths, and the student has the right to refuse it (in this case it will be verbalized as "withdrawn").
International or Erasmus incoming students are invited to contact the teacher promptly. The examination procedures for students with disabilities and / or with DSA must be agreed with the teacher, in agreement with the competent Office.
International or Erasmus incoming students are invited to contact the teacher promptly. The examination procedures for students with disabilities and / or with DSA must be agreed with the teacher, in agreement with the competent Office.
Unita' didattica A
L-LIN/13 - GERMAN LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica B
L-LIN/13 - GERMAN LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica C
L-LIN/13 - GERMAN LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor(s)
Reception:
Wednesday 15:00-18:00 (For other times: agree via email)
Office Prof. Barbara Berti, Anglistics, 4th floor, Sant'Alessandro and on Microsoft Teams