Monash University Handbook 2010 Undergraduate - Unit

Synopsis

This unit will examine literary texts as well as aesthetical and philosophical writings (in German original and/or in translation) by the German Romantics in the context of the history of German literature and philosophy from the late 18th to the early 19th centuries. It will focus on the concepts of literature, the aesthetical and philosophical debates, the conceptualisation of history, the newly established concept of literary criticism, the intersections of literature and philosophy, and the role concept of the poet.

Objectives

Upon successful completion of this subject students will have acquired a detailed knowledge of the main features of German literature, aesthetics and philosophy from the late 18th to the early 19th centuries. They will have a good grasp of key texts reflecting the intellectual debates of the period and they should have also developed an acute awareness of the formative historical forces in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. They will improve their ability to analyze and interpret key concepts of German Romanticism in light of the literary, philosophical and historical developments of the time and gained experience in relating isolated historical and aesthetic phenomena to a broader historical and theoretical framework. Students will be capable of an informed discussion of the literature and philosophy of the late 18th and the early 19th centuries in its historical context and present the results of their own research in form of a class paper and in a more detailed written essay.

Assessment

Essay (2500 words, in English or German): 60%
Class Paper (500-1000 words): 20%
Exam (1 hour): 20%

Chief examiner(s)

Franz-Josef Deiters

Contact hours

2-hour seminar

This unit applies to the following area(s) of study

German studies

Prerequisites

Advanced German Studies 1, Part 2 or above; or equivalent