| Themes | Homework |
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Introduction to course Introduction to period (1890-1933) |
M:
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| W:
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| F:
Read Rilke’s poems "Römische Fontäne" and "Der Panther" Search for elements of modernism in the poems. |
| Themes | Homework |
| poetry
Thomas Mann: Death in Venice Friedrich Nietzsche:
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M:
Read Death in Venice pp. 3-8 (Tod in Venedig pp. 9-18) Note the passages which indicate Gustav Aschenbach’s attitude toward his work and life. |
| W:
Read Death in Venice pp. 8-15 (Tod in Venedig pp. 18-30) Position Paper: Characterize Gustav Aschenbach, the poet.
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| F:
Read Death in Venice pp. 15-24 (Tod in Venedig pp. 31-49) What effect does the young-old man have on Aschenbach? What effect does the gondolier have on Aschenbach? What are Aschenbach’s impressions of Venice? |
| Themes | Homework |
| Thomas Mann: Death in Venice
Friedrich Nietzsche |
M: (same as last Friday)
Read Death in Venice pp. 15-24 (Tod in Venedig pp. 31-49) What effect does the young-old man have on Aschenbach? What effect does the gondolier have on Aschenbach? What are Aschenbach’s impressions of Venice? |
| W:
Read Death in Venice pp. 24-40 (Tod in Venedig pp. 49-77) Note Aschenbach’s impressions of and reactions to the Polish boy. How does Venice affect Aschenbach? |
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| F:
Read Death in Venice pp. 40-51 (Tod in Venedig pp. 77-97) In what ways does the narrative assume new tones? Position Paper: How is Aschenbach affected by Tadzio? |
| Themes | Homework |
| Thomas Mann: Death in Venice
Sigmund Freud |
M:
Read Death in Venice pp. 51-61(to bottom of page) (Tod in Venedig pp. 97-118) How has Aschenbach changed since his days in Munich? Note passages which demonstrate these changes. |
| W:
Read Death in Venice pp. 61-73 (Tod in Venedig pp. 118-39) How do you explain Aschenbachs fate? Position Paper: What message does the work convey, if any? |
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| F:
Read excerpt from Freud’s Civilization and Its Discontents (handout). Do Freud’s ideas open any new perspectives on Death in Venice? |
| Themes | Homework |
| Thomas Mann: Death in Venice
poetry |
M:
We will see a film on Thomas Mann. |
| W:
How does Death in Venice fit into the era in which it was written? Position Paper: What makes Death in Venice a classic? |
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| F:
Read Venice poems (handout). How is Venice depicted in each of the poems? Compare with Death in Venice. What similarities/differences are there? What does Venice represent for the modernists? |
| Themes | Homework |
| Franz Kafka: The Metamorphosis
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M:
We will continue our discussion of the Venice poems. Analyze Rilke’s and Nietzsche’s poems based on the excerpts from their letters and other writings (handout). |
| W:
Read The Metamorphosis, pp. 3-21 (part one) Describe Gregor Samsa’s life and work prior to his "metamorphosis." Position Paper: How does Gregor react to his "metamorphosis"? How does Gregor’s family/the head clerk react toward him? |
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| F:
Read The Metamorphosis, pp. 21-40 (part two) How does Gregor change (further) since his metamorphosis? What role does Gregor's sister play? |
| Themes | Homework |
| Franz Kafka: The Metamorphosis
Criticism and Interpretations |
M:
What is Gregor’s attitude toward his father? Position Paper: Having read the first two chapters of The Metamorphosis, write a possible ending for the story. |
| W:
Read The Metamorphosis, pp. 40-50 (part three) On what levels does metamorphosis occur? What characteristics of the work have led scholars to call it a novella? Position Paper: Write Gregor’s obituary. |
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| F:
Read the critical analyses of The Metamorphosis (3 handouts). Be prepared to report to the class a synopsis of the article you read. Position Paper: Evaluate the article. To what extent is the interpretation valid or invalid? Justify your remarks. |
| Themes | Homework |
| Franz Kafka: The Metamorphosis
Nietzsche Franz Kafka: Bericht für eine Akademie
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M:
We will meet in Taylor 207 to see the film on Friedrich Nietzsche. |
| W:
Read Kafka’s "Bericht für eine Akademie" Summarize the text in your own words. |
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| F:
Read the poems "Weltende," "Palmström," and "Die unmögliche Tatsache" Position Paper: Compare and contrast the main characters of "The Metamorphosis" (Gregor Samsa) and "Bericht für eine Akademie" (the ape). |
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| Themes | Homework |
| Expressionism
Georg Kaiser: Gas I |
M:
Intro to Expressionism |
| W:
Read Kaiser’s Gas, Acts 1 and 2. Position Paper: What ideologies/ways of thinking characterize: the Billionaire’s Son, the Engineer, the Clerk, and the workers. |
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| F:
Read Gas, Acts 3, 4, and 5. To what extent does the Billionaire’s son exercise power? How does he use his power? What are the limits of his power? In what ways is the drama relevant in 1999? |
| Themes | Homework |
| Georg Kaiser: Gas I
Expressionist poetry |
M: Easter Break - no classes
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| W:
Read the 4 Expressionist poems (handout). What elements of Expressionism are evident in the poems? (See outline on Expressionism in WebCT.) |
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| F: no class
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| Themes | Homework |
| Georg Kaiser: Gas I
Fritz Lang's film Metropolis |
M:
We will meet in Taylor 207 to see the film "Metropolis". ("Metropolis" is also currently on reserve for Magda Mueller’s German 200A class). |
| W:
We will continue the film "Metropolis" (in regular classroom, since Taylor 207 is not available). (Note: We will discuss the Nietzsche excerpt next week. Begin reading!) |
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| F:
We will finish seeing the film "Metropolis" (in regular classroom, since Taylor 207 is not available). Position Paper: What similarities exist between Lang’s "Metropolis" and Kaiser’s "Gas"? What Expressionist elements do they have in common? How are these reflected in the different media (film vs. drama)? |
| Themes | Homework |
| Georg Kaiser: Gas I
Fritz Lang's film Metropolis Nietzsche's Also Sprach Zarathustra
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M:
Discussion of Gas and Metropolis. |
| W:
Read excerpt from Nietzsche’s "Thus Spoke Zarathustra" (from the book Nietzsche. Selections, ed. Richard Schlacht, on reserve), pp. 123-35. Position Paper: What did Zarathustra embody for the Expressionists? |
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| F:
Introduction to Literature after World War I: The Weimar Republic |
| Themes | Homework |
| Hermann Hesse: Steppenwolf
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M:
Read Steppenwolf pp. 3-22 (Der Steppenwolf pp. 7-32) What condition does the Steppenwolf represent? Position Paper: What is the source of Harry’s "strangeness" according to the narrator? |
| W:
Read Steppenwolf pp. 25-40 (Der Steppenwolf pp. 33-53) Characterize Harrry Haller’s self-perceived relationship to the "bourgeios" (bürgerliche) world. |
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| F:
Read Steppenwolf pp. 40-66 (Der Steppenwolf pp. 54-86) Position Paper: Describe the duality in Haller’s personality, as he sees himself. In what ways does Haller’s characterization of himself not suffice? |
| Themes | Homework |
| Hermann Hesse: Steppenwolf
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M:
We will meet in Taylor 207 to see the video on the biography of Hesse. |
| W:
Read Steppenwolf, pp. 66-128 (Der Steppenwolf, pp. 87-165) Note the passages which refer to laughter / sense of humor. What do these mean in the novel? Position Paper: What role does the girl from the Black Eagle play for Harry Haller? |
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| F:
Read Steppenwolf, pp. 128-58 (Der Steppenwolf, pp. 165-203) What does music mean to Harry Haller? How has Harry changed since he was first introduced to us? |
| Themes | Homework |
| Hermann Hesse: Steppenwolf
Synthesis and Review |
M:
Read Steppenwolf, pp. 158-218 (Der Steppenwolf, pp. 203-78) Position Paper: How do you explain the novel’s ending? Is it optimistic? pessimistic? What has happened? |
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