Three credit hour course; meets 7:15-8:30 p.m., MW in BH 233.

This course is designed as a systematic introduction to the analysis and
interpretation of German poetry written over the past four hundred years. No
prior study of poetry is presupposed; no medieval texts will be read. Course
work will be organized into three segments:

1) an analytical part, which surveys the basic categories, procedures, and
terminology of lyric text analysis (including versification)
2) an historical part, which outlines the main developmental stages of German
poetry
3) a methodological part, which examines selected theoretically based
approaches to lyric texts in terms of their usefulness and limitations.

Each class meeting will deal closely with one or at most two lyric texts.
Participants will thus be asked to read and study only a relatively small
number of poems (i.e., 50-100), but these in considerable detail. Regular
substantial assignments will also be given in secondary literature (both in
English and German) of an introductory character. Participants will be asked
to serve at least once as discussion leader; and to write one short critical
paper and one longer research paper. (Grading formula: critical paper = 20%;
research paper = 40%; contributions to discussion = 40%.) The class will be
conducted in English.

Texts:
(+) Asmuth, ASPEKTE DER LYRIK: MIT EINER EINFÜHRUNG IN DIE VERSLEHRE
(+) Binder, et al., EINFÜHRUNG IN METRIK UND RHETORIK
(+) Hay & Steinsdorff, eds., DEUTSCHE LYRIK VOM BAROCK BIS ZUR GEGENWART
(+) a course reader available at Collegiate Copies, 1434 East Third Street