GERM 260 - Developments in German Literature

Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)

Topic for 2023/2024b: The World According to Kafka. Franz Kafka is one of the most popular German-language writers, yet his work is also among the most enigmatic in modern literature. Influenced by the multiple layers of different nationalities, cultures, and traditions in early twentieth-century Prague and troubled by the anxieties of modernity, he created a unique world fluctuating between the real and the fantastic. Through close readings, students examine literary tropes and constructions of identity in Kafka’s texts and practice skills for writing analytical essays on literature and its cultural context. We also discuss issues of translation and the influence of interpretation. Lioba Gerhardi.

Prerequisite(s): GERM 230, GERM 240, or permission of the instructor.

Two 75-minute periods.

Course Format: CLS