TYSK2300 ¨C German Literature 1900-1945: Selected Texts

Course content

The course is an in-depth study in a selection of key German-language texts from the period 1900-1945. The curriculum texts represent half a century of major movements in Europe's societies and cultures: the decades are characterized by modern urban living conditions, new media, new means of transport, new political movements, stronger industrialization, strengthened women's liberation and new insights into both natural sciences and psychology. World War I changed the lives of many Europeans. So too did the political troubled times from the Weimar Republic's fragile democracy to the advancement of nationalism.

The styles, themes and the expressions in these decades are many. The curriculum texts - which may vary from semester to semester - reflect and interpret the major events of the day; both the political, cultural and social frontiers and conflicts. This is the period of great writers such as Thomas Mann and Hermann Hesse, but also for important poetry renewers such as Rainer M. Rilke and Georg Trakl and new prose-genres (such as the big city novel). Not least, it is the time when Bertolt Brecht gives drama and the theater a completely new direction. Many authors were in exile after 1933, and one of the most significant and most read is Anna Seghers. This is also the time when Franz Kafka was active, a rather marginalized name in his own age, but in retrospect one of the most important authors in Western literature.

The texts are based on genre, aesthetic categories, literary periods, theory, literary criticism and the social context in which they are based. The course is based on the introductory course?TYSK1300 - Tyskspr?klig litteratur etter 1945 and further develops the knowledge of literary genres and methods of analysis and the skills in written and oral presentation in German. During the semester you write a thesis on a topic you choose in consultation with the teacher.

Learning outcome

After completing this course you:

• know key themes, expressions, literary currents and the relationship with society in German-language literature in the period from 1900 to 1945,
• can analyze, interpret and discuss advanced literary texts,
• can choose, refine, and find relevant literature and problematize the topic you have chosen for the semester assignment,
• can provide a structured representation of a case complex in accordance with scientific argumentation,
• can express yourself varied and precisely in German with a high degree of grammatical and idiomatic correctness.

Admission to the course

Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for?in Studentweb.

If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about?admission requirements and procedures.

Recommended previous knowledge

It is highly recommended you have attended TYSK1300 - Tyskspr?klig litteratur etter 1945 or have similar knowledge.

Teaching

Seminar teaching: Two hours each week for 12 weeks.

Obligatory activities:

• During the semester you will give an oral presentation about an author/text on the syllabus (the presentation must be on another topic than your term paper).
• During the semester you must submit the first draft of your term paper by a stated deadline. Read more here about rules concerning valid excuses and how to apply for postponements.?Information about?guidelines for obligatory activities.
• It is obligatory to show up for a minimum of 60% of the teaching. In this course you have to attend 7 of 12 seminars. The requirement is absolute.

The allowed absence limit will cover all absences, including illness. You will not be granted valid absences with documentation, even when the absence is due to something beyond your control.

If the course has in-person teaching, and you are signed up for an in-person seminar group, you are to attend the teaching in the location found in the schedule.

If the course has digital teaching, and you are signed up for a digital seminar group, you must attend via Zoom with your camera on.

In certain circumstances, i.e. serious or chronic illness, you could apply for?special needs accomodations.

All obligatory activities must be approved in the same semester for you to sit the exam. Approved course requirements are only valid the semester you attend the course.

A student who has completed compulsory instruction and coursework and has had these approved, is not entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework. A student who has been admitted to a course, but who has not completed compulsory instruction and coursework or had these approved, is entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, depending on available capacity.

Examination

The exam form is a term paper.

The term paper should be 8-10 pages with approx. 2300 characters without spaces. The paper must contain source references and a bibliography. The paper is written in German, and the literature should mainly be in German. The paper is assessed on the basis of literary understanding, knowledge and reflection, formulation and Independence.

Language of examination

German

Grading scale

Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.

Resit an examination

A term paper or equivalent that is passed may not be resubmitted in revised form.

If you wish to resit the exam, you must write a new term paper.

If you?withdraw from the exam?after the deadline, this will be counted as an examination attempt.

More about examinations at UiO

• Use of sources and citations
• Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
• Withdrawal from an exam
• Illness at exams / postponed exams
• Explanation of grades and appeals
• Resitting an exam
• Cheating/attempted cheating

You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.