Ateneo - UPO

GERMAN LITERATURE OF THE 20TH AND 21ST CENTURY

Readings in the order in which the works will be analysed:
• Franz Kafka, La condanna. Will be available on DIR.
• Thomas Mann, La morte a Venezia, Einaudi, 1990 o successive. In the library.
• Arthur Schnitzler, La signorina Else, Mondadori, 1994. In the library.
• Bertolt Brecht, Mutter Courage e i suoi figli, Einaudi, 2001. In the library.
• Heinrich Böll, a short story from Viandante se giungi a Spa. Will be available on DIR.
• Lyrics or prose excerpts from the most significant authors that will be uploaded in DIR during the course.

History of the German literature:
• Elena Ratti, Letteratura Tedesca 2, Alpha Test, 2002, pp. 79-end. In the library.

By means of face-to-face teaching (1,5CFU) and self-study (4,5CFU), the course aims to enable students to develop the ability to outline German literature of the 20th and 21st centuries and to relate authors and movements to their historical and cultural context. The students will also be equipped with the tools to analyse literary texts, starting with the ones discussed in class. A more advanced objective is to provide students with the necessary skills to process the information received during the course and the readings conducted independently into a critical discourse on the authors, the texts and their era. The learning outcomes are consistent with the specific learning outcomes of the degree programme.

None. The course is held in Italian. During the lesson some short texts in prose or lyrics in German will also be read, which will be translated by the teacher and analyzed in Italian.

Lectures, critical reading, text analysis and the use of multimedia resources will enable students to achieve the expected learning outcomes.

Further information will be provided at the start of the course and published in the course programme on DIR. The registration on DIR is required. Please check the teacher's page on Upobook regularly.
Non-attending students are requested to contact the teacher in order to get their detailed program by mail. The preparation of the non-attendance programme is necessary in order to obtain the 6CFU foreseen for the module, which also includes either the 30 hours of lectures or the reading of substitute materials to be carried out in an equal number of hours.

Please read the texts before we will analyze them in the lessons, so you will be able to better understand the explanations and to participate in the discussion.
Students with physical disabilities, Learning Disabilities or Special Education Needs can request specific services and tools via the Staff Sviluppo e Coordinamento Carriere e Servizi alle Studentesse e agli Studenti, consulting the University webpage: https://www.uniupo.it/en/services/services-students-physical-or-learning-disabilities
Students with disabilities, learning disabilities or special education needs, once they have contacted the University Staff, can refer to the tutor in charge of the course to define the examination modalities, concerning academic aspects.

The exam consists of an oral examination in Italian, which serves the dual purpose of assessing the student’s level of knowledge and understanding of the course content, and evaluating their independent judgement, learning ability and communication skills.
The questions will focus on the following points, corresponding to the knowledge and skills set out in the learning outcomes:
- Assessment of knowledge of 20th- and 21st-century German literature, as well as in-depth understanding of the movements, authors and texts covered in class: 50% of the exam mark.
- Assessment of the ability to analyse and interpret the works studied, to express critical judgements – including original ones – and to develop a specific critical discourse on individual authors or texts that relates to the central developments in 20th- and 21st-century literature: 50% of the exam mark.

The course will focus on some of the leading German authors and movements of the 20th and 21st centuries, based on particularly significant texts, thereby complementing the students’ independent study of literature using the second volume by E. Ratti. This will enable students not only to gain a deeper understanding of developments in contemporary German literature, but also to develop skills in text analysis and broaden their reading experience, with a view to facilitating their general study of literature and providing a solid foundation of knowledge for undertaking a future Bachelor’s and/or Master’s degree programme that includes this subject.

The expected learning outcomes are consistent with those specific to the degree programme. In order to achieve the minimum level of sufficiency (60%), students are required to demonstrate:
KNOWLEDGE:
- Knowledge of 20th- and 21st-century German literature, as well as in-depth understanding of the movements, authors and texts covered in class.
SKILLS:
- The ability to analyse the topics and works covered in the course.
- The ability to present key topics clearly, with reference to the historical, literary and biographical context, and using appropriate critical terminology.
The advanced level corresponds to 85% and is achieved through more in-depth knowledge and skills, as well as a higher level of critical analysis and clarity of presentation.
The maximum mark (100%) is awarded for an excellent level of knowledge and skills.