What is literature? What are the conditions under which literature is created? What impact has it had in different historical contexts – up to the present? How do we distinguish between fiction and reality? In light of rapid social change driven by social media and a variety of narratives circulating in daily communication, these questions are of considerable importance to public discourse. At the same time, they presently lend particular relevance to the study of modern German literature, as knowledge of literary forms, genres, and performative strategies of texts as well as precision and critical judgment (based on historical and aesthetic expertise) define the core competencies of our programme.

Modern German Literature is the largest division within the programme in German philology at Freie Universität Berlin. Our wide-ranging courses cover German-language literature from the early modern period through the present and situate these texts within genre-related and literary-historical contexts. Courses examine the form and content of literary texts across all genres, impart knowledge of historical and communicative contexts, and encompass media, art, and cultural theories. They teach methodological skills and introduce diverse theoretical approaches that are explored in close connection with specific literary texts and subjects. Students are thus presented with a representative overview of the subject area as well as numerous opportunities to pursue and deepen individual interests.

Students acquire core competencies that include an advanced understanding of modern German literature, proficiency in academic writing, mastery of scholarly research methods, and the ability to assess research findings in an independent and productive manner. Through their coursework, students obtain competence in analysing formal, genre-specific, social, cultural, literary-historical, and material aspects of literary texts. Furthermore, students develop the ability to situate modern German literature and related cultural artefacts within a world shaped by globalisation, internationalisation, and gender and diversity issues, and to critically analyse the significance of literary texts within contemporary systems of discourse. The acquired critical thinking and communication skills are fundamental to all professional fields for graduates in the humanities.