This is an archived handbook for a previous year. The current undergraduate and postgraduate handbooks can be viewed using the links above.

Undergraduate Handbook 2006-2007 (archived)

Module GERM3131: THE (AUTO) BIOGRAPHICAL TURN IN GERMAN LITERATURE

Department: Modern Languages and Cultures (German)

GERM3131: THE (AUTO) BIOGRAPHICAL TURN IN GERMAN LITERATURE

Type	Level	Credits	Availability	Module Cap	Location
Open	3	20	Not available in 2006/2007	None.	Durham

Pre-requisites

German Language 2 (GERM2021) or German Language 2 and Year Abroad (GERM2111), or an equivalent qualification to the satisfaction of the Chairman/Chairwoman of the Board of Studies in MLAC or his/her representative.

Corequisites

Modern European Languages, Combined Honours and all Joint and 'with' programmes: German Language 4 (GERM3071). Other: see Chairman/Chairwoman of the Board of Studies in MLAC or his/her reprentative.

Excluded Combinations

None.

Aims

To examine the reasons for the increased interest in questions of biography and autobiography in German-language literature of the 1970s and early 1980s, and to explore the way in which the texts problematise the epistemological and representational aspects of personal identity and of historical knowledge.

Content

Background study concerning literary trends in the post-war period, especially those of the post-1968 era.
a theoretical component involving a study of recent historiography and identity theory.
and the detailed analysis of selected texts, of which the following list is provisional: Dieter K_apos;N' and 'Josephine: Aus dem _ntlichen Leben der Josephine Baker', Wolfgang Hildesheimer, 'Marbot: Eine Biographie', Max Frisch, 'Montauk', Thomas Bernhard, 'Die Ursache.
Eine Andeutung', Peter Handke, 'Wunschloses Ungl_eter H_ling, 'Nachgetragene Liebe'.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge

By the end of this module students should be able to demonstrate a greater awareness of the problems involved in writing and reading biography and autobiography. These include the problems of knowledge, narrativity, and identity. They should also be equipped with the conceptual tools necessary for analysing complex (auto-)biographical texts.

Subject-specific Skills

Key Skills

Witten argumentation and presentation.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

The course is taught by means of a weekly 2-hour seminar. This module is taught and examined in English
Students are required to attend all seminars and expected to prepare themselves for classes and participate actively in discussion.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity	Number	Frequency	Duration	Total Hours
Tutorials	3	Termly	1 hour	3
Seminars	22	Weekly	2 hours	44
Preparation and Reading				153
Total				200

Summative Assessment

Component	Component Weighting	Element	Length/Duration	Element Weighting	Resit Opportunity
Examination	50%	one-and-a-half hour written examination		100%
Essay	50%	assessed essay of 2000 words		100%

Formative Assessment

2 essays.

Students who do not attend monitored activities shown under Teaching Methods and Learning Hours, or who fail to complete the summative or formative assessment(s) specified above, may be subject to the Academic Progress procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University.