GERMAN 422: Studies In Nineteenth-Century Literature And Culture
German Romanticism and its Afterlives
MWF 10:30-11:20 – DEN 111
Professor Jason Groves | jagroves@uw.edu
From the fairy tales collected by the Brothers Grimm to the artistic fairy tales written by E.T.A. Hoffman, the literary products of German Romanticism are some of the most popular German-language texts within and without Germany. In this course we look at such stories, their historical contexts, their complicated legacies, and some of their contemporary adaptations by writers active in feminist, anti-racist, and decolonial movements. Some leading questions to be in explored in the course include: how authentic are the folk traditions in fairy tales? What are some differences between fairy tales and artistic fairy tales like “The Little Mermaid”? How does the imagination serve as a force for social transformation? How have writers from outside of German traditions negotiated the complicated legacy of these stories? We will pursue these and other topics in readings including the Grimms, Ludwig Tieck, E.T.A. Hoffman, and contemporary writers.
The course has three major goals: Students can expect to expand their knowledge of 19th century German literature; to sharpen their critical reading and writing skills; and to develop creative and analytical course-related projects. The texts are in German, while class discussion will be conducted in German and English. Recommended level of preparation: German 301, 302, and/or 303.
Texts not yet available at the University Bookstore; most will be available in PDF form.