German Literature Research Articles (Page 3)

This article aims to demonstrate that colonial discourses on ‘racial mixing’ and their taxonomic intricacies were by no means limited to the Western colonial powers. By focusing on literary representations of racial mixing, it offers an analytical overview of this motif in the Czech context, while emphasising its function as a projection surface for colonial fantasies, aspirations of Europeanness and concerns about the integrity and homogeneity of the ‘national body’, principally fears of the subaltern position associated with ‘blackness’. Attention is paid to translations of French and German literature (e.g. Eugène Sue, Wilhelm Bauberger) from the first half of the nineteenth century, to Czech patriotic productions (Matěj Karas) and especially to representations of modernists and avant-gardists and their critical perspective (e.g. Jaroslav Hašek, Vítězslav Nezval, Vladimír Raffel). Considering a longer period of time allows the author to point out some tendencies characteristic of the Czech cultural context, especially its oscillation between mixophobic and mixophilic approaches.

The idea of orthotopic bladder substitution (OBS) was born in 1888. Since then, more than 50surgical procedures with different names have been described in the literature. These historical procedures, as well as almost all modern procedures have lost their original names and have increasingly been referred to the term ileal neobladder (INB). In 1987/88 the era of modern low pressure reservoirs began. The goal of this paper is to present for the first time and before all contemporary witnesses are no longer available the etymology of the word "neobladder". Etymology is the science of the origin and history of words and their meanings. Asecond goal was the analysis of all terms of surgical techniques reported prior to the neobladder era, which spanned from 1888-2022. Terms of surgical techniques of OBSs were included in the study if their name appeared in the title of the publication that was referenced in 1 of the 4 representative reviews or meta-analyses of open or robot-assisted radical cystectomy used for our databank. From 1888-1987 the term INB was unknown. Instead more than 50terms have been reported in the German, English, French, and Italian literature. In 1985 the term "ileal neobladder" was coined in Ulm by G.Egghart specifically for the W‑INB after he had assisted the first INB and wrote the surgical report. In 2023, nearly all OBS worldwide are "ileal neobladder", aGreek-English hybrid term. The most likely reason for the use of the Greek-English hybrid term INB instead of OBS is that it is asimpler description of the operation compared to terms like orthotopic reconstruction, and easier to understand for patients and laymen and that it is international.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to analyze the religious mysticism in literature: Shaping the integration of philosophical thought in Germany. Methodology: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries. Findings: Religious mysticism in German literature fused transcendent spiritual experiences with emerging philosophical ideas. Works by mystic figures like Meister Eckhart challenged traditional dogmas and bridged the gap between spirituality and rational inquiry. This synthesis enriched modern German thought and fostered a legacy of reflective intellectual exploration. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Hermeneutics theory, phenomenology theory & semiotic theory may be used to anchor future studies on religious mysticism in literature: shaping the integration of philosophical thought in Germany. Educators and practitioners should integrate religious mysticism into curricula and creative programs to foster a balanced dialogue between analytical and experiential modes of thought. Policymakers are encouraged to support initiatives that fund interdisciplinary research and educational programs at the nexus of literature, mysticism, and philosophy.

Based on histologic and genetic patterns, the current World Health Organization (WHO) classification distinguishes six subtypes of lymphomatoid papulosis (Lyp). The aim of our article was to analyze the frequency of histologic and immunohistochemical features of different Lyp subtypes reported in the literature. We used PubMed advanced search builder to systematically review and evaluate English and German literature of Lyp from 1968 to April 2022. We considered only papers in which histopathologic features were mentioned in detail. We identified 48 publications with a total of 518 cases. The diagnoses were based on the diagnostic criteria at the time of publication. In Lyp A and Lyp B a CD8+ phenotype was more often reported than expected (53% and 52%, respectively). A double positive phenotype (CD4+/CD8+) was found in 28% of Lyp E and a double negative (CD4-/CD8-) in 50% of Lyp with 6p25.3 rearrangement. High rates of folliculo- and syringotropism were reported in both Lyp A and B. Surprisingly, strong epidermotropism occurred in 20/38 (53%) cases reported as Lyp B and in 43/64 (67%) of Lyp D cases. The predominating phenotype in Lyp D was CD8+, while TIA-1/granzymeB/perforin expression was reported in 37/46 (80%), and CD56 was expressed in 13/47 (28%) of the investigated cases. The limitation of the data is due to the retrospective approach with diagnostic criteria changing over time and on a case selection in some publications. However, the data indicate that the Lyp subtypes overlap more than assumed. They also show that a prospective study is needed to obtain valid data on the frequency distribution of certain histopathologic criteria.

Bettina Bildhauer , Medieval Things. Agency, Materiality, and Narratives of Objects in Medieval German Literature and Beyond

This article explores the use of somatic phraseologisms in contemporary German literature, focusing on their socio-communicative functions. Somatic phraseologisms—idiomatic expressions referring to body parts—are deeply rooted in cultural and linguistic traditions. They enhance literary texts by adding expressiveness, reinforcing social connections, and contributing to humor and irony. Furthermore, these phraseologisms serve as markers of character identity, social status, and emotional states, making them a powerful tool for writers. The study also highlights emerging trends in the adaptation of traditional idioms to digital communication and modern cultural contexts. Through an analysis of their usage in literary works, this paper demonstrates how somatic phraseologisms continue to shape the stylistic and communicative landscape of German literature.

Bettina Brandt and Yasemin Yildiz, editors. <i>Tales That Touch: Migration, Translation, and Temporality in Twentieth- and Twenty-First-Century German Literature and Culture</i>

The history of German literature on film (2023)

Human life makes sense only if the individual can achieve a certain degree of happiness. In order to address this topic in an insightful and effective way, this paper turns to a selection of medieval literary narratives where the focus specifically rests on happiness that an individual might achieve when the circumstances and the ideals are right. As human beings, happiness does not simply come into our lives, at least not for adults. Instead, much intellectual education is required to gain the ability to distinguish between self-created meaning and relevance and alien control and enslavement as expressed in fake happiness. Hence, this paper intends to outline some preliminary thoughts and present literary and philosophical material from the Middle Ages where the issue of happiness has already been examined and discussed from various perspectives, inviting us to revisit them for our learning experience today and tomorrow. Since ancient times, philosophers have investigated the true meaning of happiness, offering the results of their experiences and insights. In order to reinvigorate the discourse on happiness, this paper draws from late antique philosophy, medieval verse narratives, and German literature from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, including a modern-day movie. The quest for happiness has been ubiquitous, and it continues to matter for us universally across all cultures. The Humanities by themselves might not bring about happiness, but they certainly offer important perspectives toward the meaning of human life, individuality, the sense of community, communication, and compassion, all of which pave the way toward happiness.

Rudolf Fuchs (1890–1942) was an influential figure in Prague’s early 20th-century literary scene as well as an intermediary between German and Czech literature at a time of intense social and political transformation. This study places Fuchs’ work within the broader context of his period, underscoring his significant, yet often overlooked, contributions to cultural mediation. The methods employed in this study include a detailed examination of Fuchs’ literary output and translations, alongside an analysis of his correspondence with contemporaries, to trace the evolution of his thinking from an initial alignment with Expressionism to a strong commitment to socialism. The results highlight Fuchs’ role in enhancing intercultural understanding, revealing how his translations and personal ideologies shaped the literary landscape of German–Czech relations. The study asserts the enduring relevance of Fuchs’ endeavors, particularly in the modern European sociopolitical climate. It also yields insights into the management of cultural diversity and ideological conflicts, as well as the upholding of social values amidst political volatility.

Understanding common errors that students of a foreign language make and their causes can enhance our ability to adjust teaching methodologies. This paper aimed to analyze errors that Albanian students of German language and literature make when writing texts in German as a foreign language. This qualitative and quantitative analysis set out to identify and classify errors and find the causes of errors. The study is based on 100 students of German at the B1 level, including participants from language schools and first-year students from the German Department at the University of Prishtina “Hasan Prishtina”. Students were required to submit written texts for analysis. The analysis of these texts was used to address the following research question: What are the typical and recurrent errors made by learners of German as a foreign language (GFL) and what are their causes? The analysis of written texts showed that errors occur at all linguistic levels, with grammatical errors being the most common, followed by orthography and punctuation and syntax. Most errors arose from interference between the native Albanian and the foreign language English, followed by competence and overgeneralization.

This article exemplarily traces contemporary resurgences of critical theory within a broader network of transatlantic thought and culture. Starting from the haunting presence of Theodor W. Adorno and Walter Benjamin in the writing scene of Emine Sevgi Özdamar’s Ein von Schatten begrenzter Raum (2021), the article zooms in on practices of citation and the circulation of ideas in German literatures of (post-)migration. Close readings of Hengameh Yaghoobifarah’s Ministerium der Träume (2021) and Fatma Aydemir’s Dschinns (2022) demonstrate the imaginative generativity of their aesthetic engagements as processes of undisciplined thinking towards an account of heterogeneous tradition building, the travel of ideas, and the creativity of their reconfiguration. Interlocking genre and literary experiment across high-low culture divides, Yaghoobifarah and Aydemir imaginatively recompose the tradition of political aesthetics first developed in the face of twentieth-century fascism, connecting Adorno’s continued grappling with the nightmarish realities of the present to Benjamin’s and Ernst Bloch’s insistences on imagining different futures precisely in the face of fascism.

Bounded Narratives: Form, Containment, and Border Crossing in Nineteenth-Century German Literature

ABSTRACT Alfred Kantorowicz (1899–1979), German-Jewish literary scholar, is an example of those anti-fascist returnees who were treated with utmost suspicion in both East and West. Kantorowicz, professor of German literature at Humboldt University, left East Germany in 1957 for the West, where he maintained his critical assessment of developments in post-war German society. As an independent socialist Kantorowicz remained marginalized after his flight and never found a new academic position, either in West Germany or West Berlin. However, the state pension finally awarded him allowed for relative material security. He lived in Hamburg with his third wife Ingrid until his death.

The literary fate of the German dramatist Heiner Müller is paradoxical. Despite his plays being part of the main repertoire in many of the world’s leading theaters, he faced prolonged censorship both in his homeland, the German Democratic Republic, and in Russia. However, interest in his works has grown significantly in recent years. Müller's major works have been translated into Russian, and his plays are increasingly staged in domestic theatres. Alongside these theatrical productions, Russian researchers are actively engaging with Müller’s legacy, analyzing various aspects of his dramatic works in numerous scholarly studies. This demon­strates the emergence of an active phase of academic discourse in Russia centered on Heiner Müller's contributions to drama. This article aims to examine the specifics of the Russian-language reception of Müller’s play “Cement” in contemporary scholarship and culture. “Cement” holds a pivotal role in the process of mastering Müller’s legacy in Russia. The study is novel and significant as it sys­tematically organizes materials on the reception of this play, providing a comprehensive anal­ysis of how it has been perceived and interpreted. The key themes and dominant aspects of “Cement” are identified through a comparative analysis of current Russian research on Mül­ler’s work, as well as insights from modern Russian electronic media. The study draws con­clusions about the nature of Müller’s reception in Russia and the specific perception of his drama in this context. The practical significance of this research lies in its applicability to the development and delivery of lectures on the history of European drama, as well as specialized courses on German literature.

The German writer Friedrich Schiller was arguably the most important non-Jewish writer for east European Jews. Although these readers revered him even more than they did his contemporary Goethe, they often treated Schiller’s works as middlebrow fiction that was most appropriate for women—as exemplified by ‘Friedrich Schiller’, a 1919 short story by Galicia-born American Yiddish writer Fradel Shtok, which describes the inner life of a young Jewish woman in Galicia who develops an increasingly elaborate fantasy about her favourite German writer as her quiet life is rocked by the forces of modernity. Shtok suggests that an obsession with Schiller comports with a Jewish girlhood in a refined family. As such, this story provides a new perspective on how German literature was viewed—and reclaimed—by Yiddish-speaking Jews.

The author reconstructs the concept of "anthropological historicism" of Hermann Lübbe, a contemporary German philosopher (born 1926), one of the main representatives of the so-called Joachim Ritter School. Lübbe reduces human identity to human individuality and individual awareness of the uniqueness of one's own biography—the history of the individual, which accumulates in a series of contingent experiences and their biographical effects. This approach omits the social and axiological dimension of the identity of a human being, which is emphasized by social philosophers (Georg Herbert Mead, Thomas Luckmann). In the second part of the article, the author criticizes Lübbe's concept from these sociological positions, referring to the relevant polemics in German literature on the subject.

This chapter attempts to outline the development of Yiddish translations of German literature from 1891 to 1939. It reviews and analyses which German writers and their works were translated into Yiddish. Discussing how these translations were received, it presents the reading preferences of the Yiddish world at the time. It then reaches its main conclusion: the most sought-after authors were those of Jewish descent. Among them were remarkable individuals such as Heinrich Heine, Theodor Herzl, Sigmund Freud, Otto Weininger, and Max Nordau. Their achievements brought about new trends in literature, science, and politics, and thus they became a major source of inspiration for the modernizing Jewish society in the various parts of the Yiddish-speaking diaspora.

The ‘Algorism’ in German Literature from the 13th to the 15th Century

The aim of the present study is to investigate the attitudes of philology students towards bilingualism in a multilingual environment. The research was conducted among students majoring in Hungarian, English, Ukrainian, and German language and literature at the Ferenc Rákóczi II Transcarpathian Hungarian College of Higher Education in Transcarpathia, Ukraine. Data were collected with the help of an online attitude survey (N=185) and three focus group interviews (N=12). Based on the results, philology students have generally positive attitudes towards bilingual language use, code-switching and lexical borrowing. They consider language learning as extremely important nowadays, especially English if someone wants to live or work abroad, while Hungarian–Ukrainian bilingualism is most useful in Transcarpathia. The main problem is that the Ukrainian state language is taught as a first language to ethnic minorities instead of being taught as a foreign language like English. As a result, many Hungarian children cannot speak Ukrainian. Furthermore, most students are not aware of the importance of additive language teaching, which considers the native dialect of learners to be as precious as the standard language variant. Therefore, it would be advisable to introduce the additive approach into the curriculum of all prospective teachers in multilingual environments.