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Productivity and creativity triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic and new technologies Virtual classes tend to suffer from their impersonal nature due to the technology-mediated distance between students and instructors, as my students have reported frequently. Although it requires a paid subscription (moderate, to be paid by students, at least currently), virtually all of my students have praised this system because it facilitated numerous different methods of studying, writing, and discussing the class material, and this is all online with everyone actually present. [Extracted from the article]

Zusammenfassung: Dieser Aufsatz bietet eine erste tiefergehende Interpretation einer der besten Novellen des baltisch‐deutschen Autors Werner Bergengruen (1892–1964), der noch bis in die siebziger Jahre hinein hohes Ansehen genoss, der aber anschließend geradezu systematisch aus vielerlei, vor allem aber politischen Gründen aus der Öffentlichkeit verdrängt wurde. Literaturwissenschaftliches Arbeiten muss sich aber davor hüten, subjektiv‐ideologische Kriterien zu verfolgen oder sich einem kanonischen Denken zu verschreiben. Die Tatsache selbst, dass Bergengruen sozusagen über Nacht jedenfalls im germanistischen Kontext zu einer Person non grata wurde, verdient der kritischen Analyse insbesondere im Licht seiner vielleicht aussagekräftigsten aber weitgehend unbekannten Novelle „Der Strom". Wie die Untersuchung erhellt, griff Bergengruen hier auf eine alte, bis ins Mittelalter zurückreichende literarische Tradition zurück, gestaltete aber den Stoff für seine eigenen Zwecke neuartig um: auf der einen Seite können wir feststellen, dass Bergengruen zu den wichtigsten Vertreterm des Medievalism im zwanzigsten Jahrhundert gehörte, auf der anderen lässt sich nachweisen, dass der doch sehr begabte Autor zu Unrecht in den Schatten gerückt wurde, obwohl er doch sehr eindrucksvoll mittels mittelalterlicher Motive tiefgründig über die Bedeutung des Lebens reflektierte. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite renewed efforts to establish world literature, most of the presently available theoretical models do not provide solid concepts as to the meaning and relevance of this approach. After a critical review of recent publications, this article analyzes a unique and most revealing case, the reception of medieval Persian literature (Sa'dī) through translations into European languages beginning in the seventeenth century, primarily by the German diplomat, traveler, librarian, philologist, and linguist Adam Olearius. Here we can observe what truly constitutes world literature, with Sa'dī serving as a major literary inspiration for early modern reflections on virtues and vices, relevant also for Western audiences. He was not a Christian, but the poet's truly noble ideals were to have a deep impression on his future readers in East and West, especially since the early modern age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has long been accepted that fairy tales somehow trace their roots in pre‐modern culture and folklore. But we are rather unclear about what would constitute the historical dimension in those tales. Leaving psychological or gender‐oriented methodologies aside, this article takes a fresh look at the fairy tales by the Grimms and examines critically to what extent they contain more or less authentic material connecting them specifically with the Middle Ages and our understanding of that age today. There are many elements in the tales predicated on medieval culture and social‐political conditions, such as kingship, castles, princesses and princes, knights, etc. But then there are also many mysterious and magical creatures and objects that have appealed to audiences young and old, whether they are direct borrowings from the pre‐modern world or not. Some of those, along with many motifs, were obviously directly borrowed from medieval literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Literary history can easily and quickly pass over important writers, or leave them behind because times and tastes change, or because individual poets or playwrights no longer fit into a certain cultural and political framework. This is the case with the Austrian writer Karl Heinrich Waggerl (1897-1973), who was very well known during his later years and was admired far and wide for his insightful, humorous, and meditative short stories, calendar narratives, aphorisms, and novels. Today, however, he no longer has any presence in the relevant literary histories. This article analyzes some of the central motifs in Waggerl's work and highlights timeless aspects that would justify a reorientation toward his texts. To some extent, he could be called an ecocritic avant la lettre. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent debates about the future of academia have focused primarily on teaching the STEM subjects. This is certainly a valuable call for action, but it also threatens to ignore the significant contributions of the humanities and other fields. This article presents a workable alternative by way of looking at more technical writings by 18th-century German Jesuit missionaries in Sonora (today Mexico and Arizona), which invites a critical analysis of the data provided by those authors about the natural environment and the social conditions and also a thorough examination of "literary" texts at the same time from a humanistic perspective. Those narratives also serve as meaningful documents for all German students in the Southwest because they indicate the importance of the German language for the study of the local history going back almost two hundred years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The debate about the relevance of the marriage theme in the late Middle Ages has been ongoing for a long time. We are still collecting data to establish a solid paradigm for future discussions about this topic. The current article examines two highly popular prose novels, Thüring von Ringoltingen's Melusine (1456) and the anonymous Fortunatus (1509) where the married life of the protagonist gains much more traction in the narrative development than in previous courtly romances. Most importantly, both authors place significant emphasis on the role of the family and portray their characters as situated in the network of smaller social units consisting of parents and children only. We can thus recognize the meaningfulness of the new genre of the prose novel ( Volksbuch) in the public discourse about family and kinship during the late Middle Ages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early medieval drama (in Latin) surprisingly focused very much on the theme of sexuality, as best illustrated by Hrotsvit of Gandersheim (10th century). She was most eager to compete with the Roman dramatist Terence and to create new Christian plays that were, on the one hand, basically determined by the theatrical strategies of Terence, and yet followed, on the other, early medieval Christian values as developed by the Church Fathers and desert hermits. Although Hrotsvit pursued strongly religious values throughout her works, she also revealed a keen interest in theatricality per se, irrespective of the religious paradigm characteristic of the Middle Ages. At the same time this tenth-century convent author demonstrated an incredible skill in exploring and utilizing a wide range of sexual themes in her plays and religious narratives. She consistently demonstrated a unique ability in creating theatrical works that aimed both for the basic entertainment of a convent audience and also for a fundamental clerical education that did not ignore the world of sexuality as a dangerous yet unavoidable aspect of human existence. 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article provides information on the significance of translation in German studies. It presents the insights of Albrecht Classen from the University of Arizona on the importance of translation in studying Medieval German literature. Classen notes that any translated text can never substitute the beauty and individuality of the original language. Moreover, it features the views of Ann Marie Rasmussen of Duke University which points out that every translation sacrifices the aspects of the original work of art's complexity. In addition, Guy Stern of Wayne State University discusses his experience of translating the short stories of German writer Susanna Piontek.

In the late Middle Ages poets increasingly voiced severe criticism of the social conditions of their time; they especially targeted the world of the courts and aristocracy at large. One of the most outspoken representatives of this criticism was the fourteenth-century Austrian poet Heinrich der Teichner, heretofore fairly little studied and even less known among the reading public today. He certainly relied on the traditional topos of court criticism that can be traced back at least to the twelfth and eleventh centuries, but his comments about the courts and the nobility are extremely biting and explicit. This article identifies some of the key passages in Teichner’s voluminous poetic oeuvre in which he offers poignant social, moral, and political commentary about the shortcomings of his time. Teichner can be counted among the leading voices of his time particularly because of his unabashed and outspoken discussion of fundamental shortcomings among the upper level of late medieval society. 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As recent cultural-historical studies have demonstrated, a careful analysis of food preparation and consumption can reveal much about a specific culture or society. Moreover, as this paper argues, a focus on a protagonist's attitude toward and reflection of foodstuff and meals can shed important light on his/her intellectual, cultural, and spiritual development. To test this thesis, this paper investigates how Parzival in Wolfram von Eschenbach's eponymous romance operates with food, how he performs in courtly society during banquets, and how his growing education and maturation is demonstrated through his changing behavior with regard to food at large. We can draw the significant conclusion that the growth of this hero is powerfully reflected through his relationship with food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents public opinion on the importance of literature in German studies. Jane V. Curran of Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia believes that discipline is needed in learning a language. Albrecht Classen of the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona stresses that the centrality of literature is not an issue in the current culture war. John Blair of the State University of West Georgia in Carrollton, Georgia states that Literature Studies must be given importance.

Mauritius von Craûn (ca. 1220-1230), one of the most controversial erotic love tales ever composed, deeply challenges our understanding of medieval courtly love literature. A comparative analysis with Otto of Freising's chronicle The Two Cities (1143-1157), with its pessimistic world view, demonstrates that Mauritius also reflects this pessimism and might well have been influenced by Otto's negative perspective, as numerous similarities in the historical framework (Emperor Nero, general moral decline, history of knighthood) suggest. Mauritius's use of a deceptive ship to impress his lady and its subsequent destruction foreshadow the decline of his character and the failure of courtly love. The intertextual relationship between Mauritius and The Two Cities offers new insights into the severe criticism many of the leading 12th- and 13th-century intellectuals raised against the courtly world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Late-medieval German literature offers many highly intriguing examples of erotic narratives structured and motivated in the manner of the fabliaux and novelle. One of these maeren, Dis ist von dem Heselin, composed sometime around 1300, presents an account of a tryst between a naive peasant maid and a young knight who barters a hare for her love. The narrative lives from the charming contrast between this young woman's ignorance of the true meaning of the word minne, or ‘courtly love,’ and the moral decline of the nobility. Whereas she freely and openly grants her love to the knight and later tells everything to her mother, who severely punishes her for her seeming stupidity, the knight's noble fiancée proves to be highly cynical and morally untrustworthy. Mocking the peasant maid during the wedding celebration and emphasizing her own intelligent behavior in hiding her numerous sexual contacts with the family's chaplain, she deeply shocks her fiancé, who then quickly changes the marriage arrangements and takes the peasant maid as his wife. The maid triumphs over the noble lady because of her simplicity, trustworthiness, and true love for the knight. Her moral infraction is easily forgiven because of her ignorance and naiveté, whereas her highly respected competitor for the knight's hand loses because she knows nothing of true love and morality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foreign language

Considers the late 12th-century Middle German romance poem 'Alexander' by the Pfaffe Lamprecht, a version of Alexander the Great's adventures and conquest of the Persian empire. Poem's development of the literary discourse; Significance of 'written' documents or books for the human quest of wisdom and truth; Letters written by Alexander to his mother Olympia and his teacher Aristotle.

Studies social contacts between Europeans and representatives of other races that may have facilitated the development of the idea of tolerance. Latent imperialistic elements illustrated by the portrayal of the Saracen princess in medieval French texts; Portrayal of Saracen princesses as ideal characters deserving to be admired for their character, morality, beauty and inner strength in the literary works of German writer Wolfram von Eschenbach.

The article discusses the topic about literary canon that is defined and taught in German studies. It states that the canon provides a useful hermeneutic framework for everything that people do in literary studies. It cites Franz Kafka, Thomas Mann, and Heinrich von Veldeke, as well as, Gottfried von Strassburg and Hartmann von Aue who proved to be giants in their field.

The article focuses on the philosophy of scholar/scientist Katherine Arens regarding the postmodern literary scholarship in Germany. Arens rightly emphasizes two most troublesome factors in postmodern literary scholarship. First, increasingly scholars resort on theoretical approaches as a support for their work without checking the validity of those theories. Second, they address subjects far outside the traditional scope of literary scholarship and still claim authority without having gained the necessary academic training.

The article discusses the interpretation or analysis of a text, an image or a map. It states that for the interpretation and analysis of texts and images, full attention towards the details is needed in order to reach a maximum understanding of the presentation. It tells that without having complete and detailed knowledge of the meaning of each and every word, sentence components and the full text, no one can undertake the critical examination. Every text which has an aesthetic framework is built on a highly sophisticated structure.