German Literature 1 Lm 2023/2024

Robert Walser

Robert Walser is among the best-known Swiss-German authors of the 20th century. The course will investigate Der Gehülfe, Der Spaziergang and Fritz Kochers Aufsätze with particular reference to their modernity, which was misunderstood by reviewers of these texts. The lectures will focus primarily on the formal aspects of the texts: the narrative structure and techniques of representation of the inner world in Der Gehülfe; the photograms that characterise Der Spaziergang; the (simulated) amateurism in the school themes of Fritz Kochers Aufsätze, which offers interesting starting points for reflections on literary genres; the transvaluation of the fairy tale scheme in Schneewittchen and Die Jungfrau. Der Befreier. It will also examine selected poems by the author. Lectures will be held in German and texts must be read in German. 

Texts:

The volumes of the‘Gesamtwerk’ edited by Jochen Greven (Suhrkamp 1978), or: R. Walser, Der Gehülfe, mit einem Kommentar v. Karl Wagner, Frankfurt a. Main, Suhrkamp 2010 (Suhrkamp BasisBibliothek, 102)

R. Walser, Fritz Kochers Aufsätze, mit Illustrationen von Karl Walser, München, Insel 2001 (it 2417)

R. Walser, Der Spaziergang. Ausgewählte Geschichten, hg. v. D. Keel, mit einem Nachwort v. Urs Widmer, Zürich, Diogenes 2006 R Walser, Komödie, Frankfurt a. Main, Suhrkamp 1986

Handbook:

Selected chapters of Robert Walser-Handbuch. Leben – Werk – Wirkung, a cura di Lucas Marco Gisi, Stuttgart, J. B. Metzler 2015.