The German Novel From Classicism to Realism

What is a novel, and how did it emerge as such a dominant genre in the course of the 18th and 19th centuries? This course introduces some of the most important German prose works prior to the 20th century, including texts by Goethe, Novalis, Hoffmann, Droste-Hülshoff, and Stifter. We will begin with the novel's earliest classical forms, follow its development in tandem with genres such as the fantastic tale and the novella, and end with a discussion of realism. All readings and discussions in English; no German language proficiency required.