Contemporary German Literature
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
The course, which is aimed at students of all degree programmes of Studi Umanistici, presents itself as a specialization with respect to the Bachelor's Degree and intend to investigate developments in contemporary German-language literature with a focus on fiction and lyric written after the fall of the Berlin Wall (1989). The starting point is a methodological reflection on the discipline, which is followed by a critical analysis of texts in relation to fundamental concepts such as hybridisation of genres, intertextuality, and intermediality, and of their position in different currents or trends.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding: Thanks to the specialized contents students will be able to understand theoretical-methodological and literary-historical issues concerning contemporary German literature and to provide critical reflections on authors, texts and contexts. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding: Students will be able to interpret literary texts thanks to methods and analytical tools provided in class. They will also demonstrate awareness of the various critical approaches, methodological precision and the ability to use the scientific terminology required by the subject.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
Course title: Deutschsprachige Gegenwartsliteratur: Themen, Formen, Tendenzen
Lecturer: Moira Paleari ([email protected])
The course consists of the following parts:
Part A (20 hours, 3 ects):
Deutschsprachige Gegenwartsliteratur: eine Einführung
Part B (20 hours, 3 ects):
Deutschsprachige Kurzprosa der Gegenwart: Themen, Formen, Tendenzen (with Dr. Maike Schmidt, CAU Kiel and students of the University of Kiel)
Part C (20 ore, 3 cfu):
Deutschsprachige Lyrik der Gegenwart: Themen, Formen, Tendenzen (with Prof. Dr. Torsten Hoffmann, Universität Stuttgart and students of the University of Stuttgart)
The course is held in German and provides 6 or 9 ects; for the 6 ects exam, the student will take part A and one of the other parts (B or C) of his or her choice; for the 9 ects exam, the student will take the complete programme. The course programme is valid until September 2027.
Presentation of the course:
The course aims, in a first part, to provide a theoretical-methodological and analytical-interpretive introduction to German-language literature from 1989 to the present. This will be followed by an interpretation of short prose of the new millennium and contemporary poetry.
Lecturer: Moira Paleari ([email protected])
The course consists of the following parts:
Part A (20 hours, 3 ects):
Deutschsprachige Gegenwartsliteratur: eine Einführung
Part B (20 hours, 3 ects):
Deutschsprachige Kurzprosa der Gegenwart: Themen, Formen, Tendenzen (with Dr. Maike Schmidt, CAU Kiel and students of the University of Kiel)
Part C (20 ore, 3 cfu):
Deutschsprachige Lyrik der Gegenwart: Themen, Formen, Tendenzen (with Prof. Dr. Torsten Hoffmann, Universität Stuttgart and students of the University of Stuttgart)
The course is held in German and provides 6 or 9 ects; for the 6 ects exam, the student will take part A and one of the other parts (B or C) of his or her choice; for the 9 ects exam, the student will take the complete programme. The course programme is valid until September 2027.
Presentation of the course:
The course aims, in a first part, to provide a theoretical-methodological and analytical-interpretive introduction to German-language literature from 1989 to the present. This will be followed by an interpretation of short prose of the new millennium and contemporary poetry.
Prerequisites for admission
Lectures, activities in class, learning materials and exams are in German so that students are supposed to have at least a linguistic competence of level B2.
Teaching methods
The course, which is held in German, adopts the following teaching methods: class teaching; seminar discussion, paper presentations.
Teaching Resources
Bibliographical References:
Part A:
- Leonhard Herrmann, Silke Horstkotte (Hg.), Gegenwartsliteratur: eine Einführung, Stuttgart, J.B. Metzler, 2016 (ISBN: 9783476025784);
- Volker Braun, Die deutsche Gegenwartsliteratur, Stuttgart, UTB, 2010 (ISBN: 9783825233525);
Modul B:
- Reader Deutschsprachige Kurzprosa der Gegenwart
- Texts (both to download from myAriel)
Modul C:
- Reader Deutschsprachige Lyrik der Gegenwart
- Texts (both to download from myAriel)
Non-attending students should read all chapters of one of the books suggested in Part A and contact the lecturer.
Part A:
- Leonhard Herrmann, Silke Horstkotte (Hg.), Gegenwartsliteratur: eine Einführung, Stuttgart, J.B. Metzler, 2016 (ISBN: 9783476025784);
- Volker Braun, Die deutsche Gegenwartsliteratur, Stuttgart, UTB, 2010 (ISBN: 9783825233525);
Modul B:
- Reader Deutschsprachige Kurzprosa der Gegenwart
- Texts (both to download from myAriel)
Modul C:
- Reader Deutschsprachige Lyrik der Gegenwart
- Texts (both to download from myAriel)
Non-attending students should read all chapters of one of the books suggested in Part A and contact the lecturer.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The examination consists in an oral test which aims at assessing the acquisition of the course contents.
Active participation during the lectures will be considered as an integral part of the assessment.
Active participation during the lectures will be considered as an integral part of the assessment.
Modules or teaching units
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)