GRMN 3610

Whether it's an Indian orphan in the mid-19th century or a chatty shadow or a nun with a secret in the Bavarian Alps– literature allows us to experience the world from different and therefore often strange perspectives. In real life we are physically constrained; even our empathy has its limits. Literature, however, allows us to take a deeper look into minds and places and things we would otherwise never be able to access. With the help of literature we can try to grasp what is foreign to us. But how far can literature take us? And how narrow or wide is our world view? We will approach this topic by reading and talking about different works of fiction and non-fiction written in German, while trying to navigate this “other” language and culture. During the course we will also discuss what appears typically “German” from the outside, how Germans and German culture are perceived, and whether or not that corresponds to how Germans see themselves.

The class will be conducted in German, all synchronously online (the author will be in Germany).

Satisfies Core Area IV (World Languages and Culture) and the Franklin College Literature requirement.

 Reading list

Books by C. Kloeble:

„Meistens alles sehr schnell“ (novel)

„Die unsterbliche Familie Salz“ (novel)

„Home made in India“ (memoir)

„Das Museum der Welt“ (novel)

Excerpts from:

„Die Blechtrommel“ (G. Grass)

„Die Verwandlung“ (F. Kafka)

„Das siebte Kreuz“ (A. Seghers)

„Ghost Written“ (D. Mitchell)

„Leutnant Gustl“ (A. Schnitzler)

„Lolita“ (V. Nabokov)