GRMN 531-001
German Literature to 18th Century

Bethany Wiggin profile
bwiggin@sas.upenn.edu

TR 10:30 am - 12 pm

Taught in German. Undergraduates need permission from instructor.

This seminar explores key chapters in the history of German literature since the beginnings. Our discussion of canonical works and authors ranging from the early medieval period to the early Enlightenment is intended to provide a firm grounding in German literary history. It is a discussion framed by questions to which we will constantly return: What is “die Literatur” anyway? What is “German” literature? How has its history been written? Which literary histories and other handbooks are essential to the work of “Germanisten”? How does literary history differ from cultural history? Can methods from new cultural histories help us in our investigations of literary history? Assignments differ for undergraduate and graduate students; they include several short papers and oral presentations as well as a final project.

updated 03-2009