Profile

The programme encompasses German literature and language from its beginnings through to the sixteenth century. The faculty’s expertise covers the length and breadth of the discipline, stretching from early eighth-century witnesses to Early Modern literary productions across genres. These include, for example, bible epic among other forms of religious literature, lyrical poetry (Spruchdichtung, Minnesang), brief forms (fabliaux, fables) as well as epic poetry and romance (Arthurian romance, Greek novel, frame tale narratives, chansons de geste, and heroic epic), and medieval and early modern plays.

Specifically, the programme offers ample opportunity to explore literary productions dating back to around 1200 and their socio-historical contexts as well as their lasting literary historical effects that still reverberate in the present day. The course of study includes the cultural and linguistic diversity of such literature set against the backdrop of profound shifts in social structure and literary media. In the process, you will develop a skill set specific to the challenges of studying pre-modern literature. You will gain an understanding of manuscripts and early prints not only as transmitters of text, but also as medial artefacts of a manuscript culture, and will work with related critical approaches, for example transmission histories, variance, relations of text and image. Skills outcomes also align with more generic humanities’ learning outcomes, such as critical thinking; organizing and presenting complex information in different oral and written formats; research and information processing; writing and editing skills

In terms of shared content, methods, or theories, the programme connects to the profile of Modern German Literature with regards to Early Modern literature as well as to the profile of linguistics with regards to developing an understanding of as well as practical approaches to translating older stages of the German language.

The programme introduces philological methods and arguments that have, historically, contributed to the formation of the academic discipline of German literature. The programme offers an overview of theories and methods of (German) medieval studies. It provides a practical toolkit for dealing with the idiosyncrasies of literature from a manuscript age as well as socio-historical and theoretical knowledge necessary to gain an understanding of linguistic particularities and historical forms of communication within changing cultural contexts. Seminars draw attention to historical developments from medieval to modern times. Current political constructions of identity as well as cultural and popcultural productions refer to historical or ostensibly historical conditions. Such contemporary as well as historic medievalisms, for instance those of the nineteenth-century, in conceptions of literature and the self will be examined critically, reflected and historicized.

The modules in this programme convey fundamental knowledge of processes of literary historical and linguistic change while allowing for the development of transferable core competencies of humanities research in the areas of analysis and methodological reflection, medial competencies and information processing, presenting and conveying various content, and also social skills, especially with regards to gender and diversity.

Faculty place importance on close supervision while being receptive to students’ interests and needs in teaching interactions. Modules are aligned with current research interests and projects. Core areas of study include:

• literature and society: gender, social class, religion
• literature and the history of knowledge
• theories of literature and culture in Medieval Studies
• mediality of medieval literature
• medievalisms