Course Description: In this course we will read GDR literature primarily from a literary-historical perspective, examining in what ways the selected texts reflect the development of socialism in the German Democratic Republic. We will also discuss the various authors' literary styles and political positions, as well as the current validity of their works. Each participant will be required to read and discuss all the texts assigned, lead one class discussion, give one oral report, and write an in-class final. In lieu of the final you may alternatively write a research paper.
 

Required Texts:

                Brigitte Reimann, Ankunft im Alltag (1961)
                Hermann Kant, Die Aula (1965)
                Christa Wolf, Nachdenken über Christa T. (1968)
                Ulrich Plenzdorf, Die neuen Leiden des jungen W. (1972)
                Günter de Bruyn, Neue Herrlichkeiten (1986)
                Christoph Hein, Horns Ende (1985)
                Monika Maron, Stille Zeile Sechs (1993)

                Photocopies of selected short texts and essays

Recommended Texts:

                -Wolfgang Emmerich, Kleine Literaturgeschichte der DDR (Leipzig: Kiepenheuer, 1996)
                -Joseph Gibaldi, MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, 4^th ed. (New York: 1995)

Course Evaluation:

                Participation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20%
                Diskussionsleitung . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25%
                Referat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25%
                Final (or Research Paper). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30%

Attendance:. Required.

Participation: Participation in class discussion involves first of all close and careful reading of the texts. You are expected to read each text thoroughly and conscientiously, to bring to class your ideas, questions, and interpretations, to prepare answers to the questions on hand-outs when they are provided to guide your reading, and to listen to and consider carefully and considerately what others say. Each person's full participation in class discussion is essential to making this course an intellectually stimulating and rewarding experience for everyone.

Diskussionsleitung: You will lead the discussion on a selected work for half of one class period. At the end of the class preceding your Diskussionsleitung, you should provide a list of questions that will help guide our reading. At this time you might also want to explain briefly the work's context and which aspects you would like us to focus on. You should begin your Diskussions-leitung by providing background information about the text's genesis and its author's life, as well as a summary of important points, both those you have discovered yourself and those discussed in secondary literature. You will then lead the discussion based on the questions you have given us and the other important points you have discovered.

As part of this component it is required that you read several works of secondary literature about the text you are discussing, not counting articles in reference works such as The Oxford Companion to German Literature. Knowing how inadequate Wise Library can occasionally be, you will need to search for relevant material early in the semester so that you can avail yourself of the Interlibrary Loan Service, should you need to. It should be clear from your presentation what secondary texts you have read, i.e., you should name them at some point in the presentation, perhaps when disputing or affirming the positions taken in them. My evaluation of your performance will be based on evidence of effort, accurate and insightful scholarship, and an interesting and informative presentation that involves all class members.

Referat: This report will be on a topic of importance to GDR literature and literary history not assigned to the class as a whole, but of relevance to our understanding of the period. It should be 20-40 minutes in length and may be followed by a discussion, but its duration should never exceed 60 minutes.

Possible topics and appropriate dates include:
Bitterfelder Weg (1.9, 8.9 or 15.9); Fantasie im Sozialismus (6.10 or 13.10); Wolf Biermann-seine Lieder und seine Ausbürgerung (20.10); Feminismus in einer "emanzipierten" Gesellschaft (29.9 or after); die Rolle des Kabaretts in der DDR (anytime); Ökologische Literatur (anytime after 20.10); Literatur der Hineingeborenen / "Die Szene" im Prenzlauer Berg (1.12 or after); die Schriftsteller und die Stasi (13.10 or after); die Kontroverse um die Veröffentlichung von Christa Wolfs Was bleibt (1.12 or after). Or: report on any novel I approve that we're not reading as a group, on a date that is appropriate to the course's time line.

Final: There will be an in-class final on December 13^th that covers the terms, texts and ideas we have discussed throughout the semester.

Research Paper: If you elect to write a paper instead of the in-class final, it may be on the material discussed in class or on other texts that reflect the development (and demise) of socialism in the GDR. The paper should include an abstract of your proposed project, in which you state your thesis and how you will proceed (due October 6); a list of works cited plus the first two pages of your paper (due November 17); and the completed research paper (due December 13 at approximately 3:00 p.m.). The first two parts will be evaluated and returned to you for further work if needed. The paper must reflect familiarity with secondary literature on your chosen topic (including recent articles), and it must be written according to the style guidelines presented in the MLA Handbook, including use of parenthetical documentation and a list of works cited. Papers should use standard size font (10 cpi), 1 inch margins, and double-spacing, and should be 15-18 pages in length.
 

Our readings and discussions will proceed approximately as follows:

Week 1 (August 25):
                    Einleitung: Anti-Fascismus und das literarische Erbe
                    Historical background and parallels; Discussion of "Sieg der Zukunft" Hand-out; Freundschaft mit der Sowjet
                    Union; Sozialistischer Realismus

Week 2 (September 1):
                    Vom Aufbau zur Ankunft I
                    Discussion of Brigitte Reimann's Ankunft im Alltag D R

Week 3 (September 8):
                    Vom Aufbau zur Ankunft II
                    Begin discussion of Hermann Kant's Die Aula.(to p. 235) D R

Week 4 (September 15):
                    Vom Aufbau zur Ankunft II
                    Complete discussion of Die Aula R

Week 5 (September 22):
                    Das Individuum und die Gesellschaft I
                    Begin discussion of Christa Wolf's Nachdenken über Christa T. (to p. 94) D

Week 6 (September 29):
                    Das Individuum und die Gesellschaft I
                    Complete discussion of Nachdenken über Christa T. R

Week 7 (October 6):
                    Das Individuum und die Gesellschaft I
                    Discussion of Ulrich Plenzdorf's Die neuen Leiden des jungen W. D R

Week 8 (October 13):
                    Ein neues Verhältnis zum Erbe; die Neubewertung der Romantik
                    Discussion of relevant hand-outs R

Week 9 (October 20):
                    Das Individuum und die Gesellschaft II: Neuer Realismus
                    Begin discussion of Günter de Bruyns Neue Herrlichkeiten (to p. 108, i.e., to "Betrogene Betrüger") D

Week 10 (October 27):
                    Das Individuum und die Gesellschaft II: Neuer Realismus
                    Complete discussion of Günter de Bruyns Neue Herrlichkeiten R

Week 11 (November 3):
                    "Vergangenheitsbewältigung" in der DDR/Opfer und Täter
                    Begin discussion of Christoph Hein's Horns Ende (to p. 125, 5. Kapitel) D

Week 12 (November 10):
                    "Vergangenheitsbewältigung" in der DDR/Opfer und Täter
                    Complete discussion of Christoph Hein's Horns Ende D

Week 13 (November 17):
                    "Vergangenheitsbewältigung" nach der DDR/Opfer und Täter
                    Begin discussion of Monika Maron's Stille Zeile Sechs (to p. 109) D

Week 14 (November 24):
                    Thanksgiving break

Week 15 (December 1):
                    "Vergangenheitsbewältigung" nach der DDR/Opfer und Täter Complete discussion of Monika Maron's Stille
                    Zeile Sechs R

Week 16 (December 8):
                    Course wrap-up R

Week 17 (Monday, December 13):
                    Final Exam

Please refer to this syllabus frequently throughout the semester to remind yourself of the course's requirements and schedule.