| Unit name | History and Literature |
|---|---|
| Unit code | GERM32055 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | H/6 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Dr. Davies |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department | Department of German |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
'Poetry is at once more like philosophy and more worth while than history, since poetry tends to make general statements, while those of history are particular.' Aristotle's claim in the Poetics opens questions that remain relevant for both literary critics and writers of history today. What are the affinities between history and literature, and what are the differences? Can they reliably be distinguished from each other? Is historical writing fundamentally 'literary', and what implications does taking a historical subject have for literary art?
This unit will consider theoretical views of this relationship alongside texts by German historians and literary writers from the seventeenth century to the present day. The precise programme of texts to be studied will be decided in the first session of the unit; authors for consideration might include Gryphius, Schiller, B�chner, Grillparzer, Ranke, Fontane, Brecht, Golo Mann, and Grass. Further suggestions will be invited from participants before the course begins.
Aims:
- to provide a formal introduction to the relationship between history and literature - to explore this relationship by understanding theoretical debates in history and literary criticism, and by examining a range of literary and historiographical texts as examples - to build on students experience of reading literature and studying history by examining the relationship between the two modes and disciplines, and thus to complement other teaching in the Department and the School - to enable students to develop their own critical insights into the relationship between history and literature.The unit will develop:
- knowledge, understanding and appreciation of some key aspects of literary criticism and historical theory, and of the genres of the historical novel and historical drama - knowledge, understanding and appreciation of significant German literary and historical texts - skills in presenting information and arguments in a structured form, both orally and in writing; language skills will be enhanced by practice in reading literary and historical texts in German.Weekly seminars, to consist of informal lectures and seminar presentations and discussions.
