Minor in German Philosophy - 'Freiheit'. Freedom in German Literature and Thought II. 19th and 20th century GERM 2601   'Freiheit'. Freedom in German Literature and Thought II. 19th and 20th century
CREDIT HOURS: 3
Goethe’s Divan opens our discussion; Goethe follows the Persian poet Hafiz to the Orient. There he finds freedom of the imagination which enables him to ignore the reality of the Napoleonic wars. Goethe’s avoidance of reality became the role model for the Symbolist movement. The German Romantics placed a writer’s imaginative capacity (“Fantasie”) and “symbolische Anschauung”, his ability to view the world symbolically, higher than any concerns about objective reality. New forces, like chance (“Zufall”), counter man’s perceived freedom, as is shown in the works of Henrich von Kleist. The dependence on circumstances, social structures and natural laws becomes the great topic of Realism and Naturalism. The human being without hope, faith, or the chance of salvation is manifested in Büchner’s works. Finally, the existential crisis of modern man finds its most representative expression in the works of Franz Kafka. Texts by Goethe, Gautier, Kleist, Büchner, Kafka and others will be read in German. English translations will be provided. Language of instruction: English and German, as desired by the students. This course should appeal to students interested in the history of ideas. Attendance of Part I is not a prerequisite.
FORMAT: Lecture