German Literature
By Hannah Jopp
General Information
➢ Germany
is one of the world's leading
book nations
➢ Literature
comprises literary texts
written in the German language
➢ Includes
works of:
➢
Poems
➢
Stories
➢
Philosophy
➢
History of literature
➢
Social sciences
2
The Enlightenment
(1720-1800)
➢ New
point of view
➢ Literature
was to amuse and teach the
people
➢ Relied
on empiricism (experience)
and rationalism (sense)
➢ Individual
social rank, because of the
abilities and talents
3
Immanuel Kant
➢ *22.4.1724
Ɨ 12.4.1804
➢ One
of the most influential thinkers of
the German Enlightenment
➢ Created
a new point of view in the
philosophy by his epistemology
➢ Most
important work: '' Kritik der
reinen Vernunft” (Critique of Pure
Reason)
4
Weimar Classicism
(1786-1805)
➢ Cultural
and literary movement
➢ Antique
as literary ideal
➢ Literature
should teach, permit
continuing education & visualise
knowledge
➢ Proportion,
law & severity → perfect
beauty
5
Johann Wolfgang von
Goethe
➢ *28.8.1749
ł 22.3.1832
➢ One
of the most important
representatives of the Weimar
Classicism
➢ Turned
to the ideals of the Antique
after his journey to Italy
➢ Busied
himself with different natural
scientific domains
6
Friedrich Schiller
➢ *10.11.1759
ł 9.5.1805
➢ One
of the most important
representatives of the Weimar
Classicism
➢ German
➢
philosopher, poet & historian
Art need to serve the advancement of
the humanity
➢ Most
important work → “Ode an die
Freude” (Ode to Joy)
7
Romanticism
(1795-1835)
➢ Determined
by revolutions and the
Napoleonic wars
➢ Dominant
feeling was the longing
➢ People
were interested in infinity,
darkness and overcome borders
➢ Separation
of reality and dream were
broken through
8
Heinrich Heine
➢ *13.12.1797
ł 17.2.1856
➢ One
of the most important poets,
authors & journalist of the 19 th century
➢ Imparted
the German literature a
previously unknown lightness
➢ Critical,
politically involved journalist,
satirist and polemicist
9
Literature of the Weimar
Republic
(1919-1933)
➢ Time
was characterized by big
political, social and economic
pressures
➢ Partition
➢
of the society
Journalistic market obtained an
important role
➢ Literature
consisted of multiple
phrasings
➢
Critical classification of the reality
10
Exile Literature
(1933-1945)
➢ Hitler's
takeover in 1933
➢ NSDAP
''cleaned'' Germany
➢
Book burning (10 May 1933)
➢
End of the varied intellectual life
➢ Arts,
literature, press, films and radio
were controlled
➢ Many
writers had to go into exile
11
Stefan Zweig
➢ *28.11.1881
➢ Developed
➢
ł 23.2.1942
a distinctive spelling
Brought a gently political interpretation
with narrative force into connection with
a brilliant stylistic manner
➢ Advocated
a mental unified Europe
➢ Committed
suicide
12
Frankfurt Book Fair
➢ World's
largest trade fair for books
13