GERMAN 411, Winter 2021
MWF 12:30pm - 1:20pm, zoom
Office hours: By appointment (via zoom)
Dr. Annegret Oehme, oehme@uw.edu
Studies in Medieval Literature and Culture: The Art of Love in Medieval German Literature
Course Description
A damsel in distress saved by an adoring knight – this common image of the medieval times only offers a very small insight into the rich literature of the Middle Ages and its concepts of love. This class introduces you to central medieval concepts with a specific focus on love in courtly and religious literature. The course explores these concepts of love by examining Gottfried von Staßburg’s Tristan, Medieval Courtly Love Poems, and Mechthild von Magdeburg's Das Fließende Licht der Gottheit. The readings in this class serve as case studies to discuss the human need to bond with others and God, physically and spiritually, by the means of love. You will have direct access to medieval material and, in the process, both learn how to access pre-modern narratives and understand the importance of materiality and performance for medieval literature. Over the course of the quarter, you work alone and with others on three major creative projects: writing a modern love poem, drafting a continuation of Tristan, and adapting Mechthild von Magdeburg’s mystical writings for a modern audience.
Learning Goals
By the end of the quarter you will have encountered different discourses on love in medieval German literature and, in the process, will have gained a better understanding of medieval literature, language, and culture and learned how to access pre-modern narratives. These overall objectives encompass many particular goals as well. As a result of this class, you should be able to read and analyze texts from various epochs closely and work in teams, apply questions that have occupied human thought to a variety of cultural contexts and approaches thus translating your knowledge through group work and individual research. Over the course of the quarter, you will expand your knowledge of the Middle Ages and literature as well as deepen your German. As we will explore various materials from medieval songs to early modern pamphlets, you will become versed in the importance of materiality and form in literature and experiment with these forms by yourself.
- Media available via streaming: Tristan & Isolde (2006)
Requirements and Grading
In addition to reading and preparing all materials before class, you are expected to:
- participate in class discussions and group activities
- complete all the assignments described below
Your course grade will be calculated in the following way:
- Modern Minnesang poem 25 %
- Tristan Continuation 25 %
- Mysticism 25 %
- Discussions and Quizzes 25 %
All assignments to be completed in German.
Because each assignment builds upon the previous one, no late work will be accepted.
Participation and Class Room Environment
The success of this class depends on you sharing your thoughts and questions with me and your classmates. Don’t be shy and share your insights with all – our classroom serves as a space to discuss and learn together. To ensure success and provide a safe environment for everybody, all discussions are expected to be conducted in a respectful manner and in professional behavior. Diverse experiences and perspectives have an important place in our classroom. We intend to present material in a respectful way regarding gender, sexuality, disability, socioeconomic status, age, culture, ethnicity, race, and disability. Let’s create a welcoming and respectful learning environment together. By participating in this class, you are committing to establishing this classroom as a safe environment for everybody. No discriminatory and disrespectful behavior will be tolerated.
Accommodations
UW is committed to providing an equal educational opportunity for all students. If you have documented physical, psychological, or learning disability on file with UW, you may be eligible for reasonable academic accommodations to help you succeed in this course. If you have a documented disability that requires accommodation, please notify us within the first two weeks of the semester so that we may make appropriate arrangements early in the semester. (Additionally, if you have not done so, please register with DRS http://depts.washington.edu/uwdrs)
Communication and Office Hours
- I will try to respond to your messages within 24 hours of receipt between Monday and Friday.
- We will use Canvas. Please set your notifications on your account accordingly to get notified about important messages!
Readings and Homework
Please prepare readings by reading them actively (taking notes, summaries, noting questions and comments).
Assignments
- Modern Minnesang poem: Working in a small group, you will write your own modern Minnesong. This project will help you comprehend the consequences and choices of medieval poets and the similarities/differences compared with our modern lives. The projects will be submitted on Canvas and presented to peers in class.
- Tristan Continuation: Working in a small group, you will write your own continuation of Tristan. This project will help you reflect on what mattered to a medieval audience and what matters to a modern audience. The project is accompanied by a short written reflection. The projects will be submitted on Canvas and presented to peers in class.
- Mysticism: Working in a small group, you will create an imaginary communication between Mechthild von Magdeburg and an audience within the framework of a social media platform of your choice. This project will help you comprehend the consequences and choices of textualization and reflect on how mysticism can be perceived in Mechthild’s time and its place in our modern world. The projects will be submitted on Canvas and presented to peers in class.
Academic Integrity
In the case of plagiarism or cheating, the instructor will follow UW’s procedures and report the case.
Schedule
Mon, Jan 04: Introduction
Wed, Jan 06: Welcome to the Middle Ages!
Read: Rubin Ch1.
Fri, Jan 08: Middle Ages Continued (knights etc.)
Read: The Middle Ages/ Medieval Society
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Mon, Jan 11: Introduction “Minnesang”
Wed, Jan 13: “Minnesang”
Read: Frühphase des Minnesangs
Fri, Jan 15: “Minnesang”
Read: Dienstminne – Hohe Minne – Entsagungsminne
QUIZ 1 (01/15 13:30- 01/16 13:30)
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Mon, Jan 18: MLK Day / No Class
Wed, Jan 20: “Minnesang”
Read: Minnesang und Handschriften
Fri, Jan 22: “Minnesang”
Read: Alternative Konzepte – Erfüllungsminne
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Mon, Jan 25: “Minnesang”
Wed, Jan 27: “Minnesang”
Read: Fiktionalität und Aufführungspraxis
Fri, Jan 29: Minnesang: Project Preparation & Locus Amoenus Game
QUIZ 2 (01/29 13:30- 01/30 13:30)
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Mon, Feb 01: Minnesang: Project Presentations & Wrap Up
Wed, Feb 03: Tristan
Read: Der "Tristan" Handlung / Struktur
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Wed, Feb 10: Tristan
Fri, Feb 12: Tristan
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Mon, Feb 15: No Class
Wed, Feb 17: Tristan
Fri, Feb 19: Tristan
Read: Tristan (individ. Readings)
QUIZ 3 (02/19 13:30- 02/20 13:30)
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Mon, Feb 22: Tristan: Project Preparation & Wrap Up
Wed, Feb 24: Online Movie Forum
Watch: Tristan & Isolde (2006)
Fri, Feb 26: Tristan: Project Presentation
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Mon, Mar 01: Mysticism
Wed, Mar 03: Mysticism
Das Fließende Licht der Gottheit 1
Fri, Mar 05: Mysticism
Das Fließende Licht der Gottheit 2.pdf
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Mon, Mar 08: Mysticism
Das Fließende Licht der Gottheit 3.pdf
QUIZ 3 (03/08 13:30- 03/09 13:30)
Wed, Mar 10: Mysticism: Project Preparation & Wrap Up
Fri, Mar 12: Mysticism: Project Presentations & Class Wrap Up
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Disclaimer
“A class is a process, an independent organism with its own goals and dynamics. It is always something more than even the most imaginative lesson plan can predict.” (Thomas P. Kasulis)
Your learning is our principal concern. As a class, we may discover that we want to spend more time on certain topics and less time on others. I will consider changing the schedule if such a change would benefit most students’ learning in the course. Therefore, this syllabus is subject to change.