An Introduction to German Literature

Lesson 1: September 23, 2000

1. Liteary Technique:

-depends on owr ability to appreciate beauty (aesthetics)

-Three levels of aesthetics study:
1. emotional --- heart
2. analysis --- head
3. appreciation --- soul (heart + head)

-Three aspects of looking at the text:
1. World knowledge (context/extricit of the text)
2. Content / Substance --- e.g. Plot, Theme (eg. Romeo & Juliet: love Vs Duty)
3. Form / Expression --- Structure (Dramatic structure, external structure-eg. Act 2, 3/setting, internal structure-eg. characters, language-poetic/metaphor/symbolic...)

2. World knowledge

-Germany, Switzerland, Austria (Hitler came from Linz of Austria)

-Philosopher, Composor, Wars, beer, made in Germany, WWII,

-German- Low German, High German

-Ger + 1. Spear, 2. a loud noise, 3. Germania (Latin)

-Deutsch
--dist (?) = people

-Germanic people (Geltic -- Gal)
English
Friesian --- a part of the Netherland (Nether---low/beneath)
Dutch

-(W) L German
H German

(N) Danish
Swedish
Norwegian
Icelandic

(E) Gothic (dead)

France --- Frankreich
(North France --- Germanic)
(South France --- Non-German)
Lombard -- long bears (?)

- Britain
1. Angles
2. Jutes -- (only Kent/Hampshire)
3. Saxons --- Sax ---> city

Flatland --- Low German --- North
--- High German
--- Central German

From Cambridge ---->Moscow
No/low mountain --- so called LOW

- Low German
Central German
High German (mountain)

OHG ---7-11 century: Hildebrandslieds (69)
MHG---11-14 century: flowering and blooming of German lit (1175-1220 peak of G.lit) (?)
NHG---14-Now (early/now)

Homework: read "Faust" Part 1
Presentation:
Write:
1. Plot & Theme of Part 1
2. Setting & External Structure
3. The internal Structure (character/contrast)
4. Language & Symbol
(quotation given)