Unit information: German Children's Literature in 2011/12

Unit name	German Children's Literature
Unit code	GERM10034
Credit points	20
Level of study	C/4
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director	Mr. Langner
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	Department of German
Faculty	Faculty of Arts

Description including Unit Aims

In this unit we will explore the representation of German history, society, and culture in German children's literature, focusing on the time since 1933 until today. Applying basic principles and methods of literary analysis, we will reflect on how history is presented and presents itself within and through children's books as well on what literature can tell us about the past, in particular for the historical periods of the Third Reich and the GDR the role propaganda played in children's literature will be concerned. Lectures on German history, society, and culture from 1933 - today and introductory lessons on children's literature will alternate with student presentations on the context, content, and reception of selected children's books. We will also do some close reading of excerpts of certain books. This will be complemented by analytical discussions about the texts and their perspectives on history, society, and culture.

This unit aims to:

a) enrich and structure students' knowledge about German history and culture, using feature films as historical documents but also as contemporary interpretations of history, and

b) introduce students to the basic principles and methods of film analysis as discourse analysis.

In this regard the unit is designed to:

• develop students' skills in structural thinking and critical (textual) analysis

• develop students' essay writing and presentation skills, promote interest in academic research

• complement other history-based units of the German department.

Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of the unit students will have gained profound knowledge of important events and developments with German history society and culture from 1933, and have developed a sound understanding of the principles and methods of critical discourse analysis. They will have developed their academic and research skills and abilities for further studying.

Teaching Information

lectures, discussions, group work and student presentations.

Assessment Information

Essay 50%, Commentry 1 25%, Commentry 2 25%

Reading and References

• Mark Allinson, Germany and Austria, 1814-2000. Modern history for modern languages (Arnold, 2002)

• Bettina Kümmerling-Meibauer, Klassiker der Kinder- und Jugendliteratur, 3 vol. (Metzler, 2004)

• Reiner Wild (ed.), Geschichte der deutschen Kinder- und Jugendliteratur (Metzler, 1990)

• other key texts can be found in the reader

A full bibliography will be issued before the start of the Second Teaching Block.