GER1880H: Gottfried Keller and the Politics of Poetic Realism in a Minor Key

This course addresses a glaring absence in the Department's course offering of a dedicated 19th century literature course and one of the central aspects of German 19th century literary programs, poetic realism. The course examines the particular styles and forms of poetic realism in Gottfried Keller's writing. Keller is one of the most subtle authors of poetic realism. Questions to be examined will be Keller's literary politics to voice difference, dissent, and critique. Targets of Keller's critical engagement are the emerging Zurich bourgeoisie, colonial fantasies, and the problematic way the traces of colonialism shape Swiss society, but also literary canons and canonicity amid the marginalization of German language texts by Swiss writers in the face of German nationalism.

Credit Value (FCE)

0.50

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