Department of German
UW-Madison
College of Letters & Science

741:(CompLit 475): Theory of Literature/Poetics

Adler, R 3:30-6:00

A hedonist understanding starts from the assumption that consumers of literature do not have to make any efforts when reading: all they have to do is enjoy. If, however, we want to know why and how texts—read, performed, presented, ‘evented’—affect us in an inimitable way, we have to reflect on literature and its particular qualities. In short: we look at the specifics of literature and its functions within their respective contexts. What is exclusively specific for literature (as opposed to, e.g., the visual arts, historiography, philosophy, etc.)? How, precisely, do we leap from enjoying to analyzing, and then to enjoying more “deeply” after the analysis of literary texts? What are functions of literature for the psychological economy of human beings? for societies? cultures? Does literature serve a purpose? What, then, is the purpose of literature that declares explicitly to not serve any purpose?

In this course, we will start from discussing some generic concepts that pertain to the field of literature as a subfield of human culture. Then, we will devote some of our time to very close readings of literary texts from different languages, authors, and times. Based on our reading experience, we will develop sets of questions that relate to the fundament of literary scholarship. We will start from our own set of questions and develop strategies (methods, i.e., controlled approaches) to find satisfying answers to our questions. Finally, we will seek support from authors who already invested energy and talent in this type of investigation. From close reading to reflecting to reflecting on (already existing) reflections leads us from simple stages of theorizing to complex levels of literary theory and poetics. Our goal is to better understand literary theory and poetics as ‘windows on literature.’

The dominant form of this course will be in-class discussion. Participants will give short presentations on limited topics in class . A final research paper will be written in consultation with the instructor. Among the author we will read are Gustave Flaubert, Robert Musil, Heinrich von Kleist, Friedrich Hölderlin, Theodor W. Adorno, Ferdinand de Saussure, Roman Jakobson, Roland Barthes, Barbara Johnson, Terry Eagleton, Hayden White, Clifford Geertz, and others.