Abstract
This essay is focused on Paul Celan as a reader of Walter Benjamin. It analyzes Celan's poem, “Port Bou – deutsch?”, which consists almost exclusively of quotations from Benjamin's review of a book on German poetry written by a scholar from Stefan George's circle, Max Kommerell, in 1929. Benjamin's essay is an act of resistance against George's idolization of poetic purity and mythologization of the German tradition. In his poem, written decades after the collapse of the Third Reich, Celan re-reads Benjamin's review in light of contemporary events and reflects anew upon the problem of purification. Celan's poem, “contaminated” with quotations, is an attempt to purify Benjamin's essay and, at the same time, a condemnation of purity. Aware of these intrinsic contradictions, Celan does not consider publishing his poem. Citation, the ground for the poetic encounter, reveals itself in this poem as a political gesture.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
