Time Schedule:
Stephanie E Guenther
GERMAN 495
Seattle Campus
Special topics, the subject matter and depth of which are not included in other literature courses, arranged through consultation among students and faculty members.
Class description
Spring 2008
Fin de Siecle: Turn-of-the-Century Literature in Berlin, Munich and Vienna
The expression Fin de siecle generally refers to the last years of the 19th century. European societies experienced the turn of the century as a period of anticipative excitement - or despair and anxiety -about unprecedented, ongoing or impending change, including the development of the modern megapolis, advances in science and technology, and the Women's, Youth and Labor movements.
In the German-speaking countries, the rapidly growing cities of Berlin, Munich and Vienna saw a surge of literary activity that lasted through 1914. We will study the literary development of this period in its historic, societal and aesthetic context, as reflected in the prose, drama and lyrics of Arno Holz, Johannes Schlaf, Robert Musil, Arthur Schnitzler, Lou Andreas-Salome and Margarete Böhme.
Student learning goals
General method of instruction
Recommended preparation
Class assignments and grading
Readings and discussions will be primarily in German. The course requirements include two short in-class presentations with handouts, a midterm and an 8-10 pages term paper, in English or German.
