GERMAN

LITERATURE
P R E PA R E D B Y: G E N E VA A L C E R A

GERMAN LITERATURE
Embraced not only the literary work from
Germany but also from Austria, and
German speaking parts of Switzerland
Tried to inject foreign concepts such as of
France
emerged only before the 17th century

EARLY AND MEDIEVAL GERMAN LITERATURE

800-1050

There was a conflict between the

heroic tradition of Germanic tribe
(honor, valor, and fate) and the
Christian Gospel (humility,
renunciation, and love)
The Song of Hildebrand (800)
was written
- an alliterative verse fragment
- emphasized fate, therefore
considered pagan

 HELIAND (830) was written

a Christian counterpart of The Song of
Hildebrand
An epic poem about the life of Christ

Classical hexameter
Was introduced by Walter Aquitaine

Ecbasis Captivi
Was considered the very first fable in
Germany

Hroswitha von Gandersheim

Was known as the first German writer

1050-1300
German literature reached its
golden age (1180-1220)
Nibelungenlied (1200)
Was considered the greatest German
epic

LATE MIDDLE AGES

1300s

knighthood declined and paved the way for the rise of

city burghers

Dramas in this period were mostly parodies and satires

with course humor
Chapbooks were widely read (chapbooks are simple
romantic verses)
Faust legend became popular and had several versions

1400s

Martin Luther translated the Bible into German

CHAPBOOKS

THE 17 TH CENTURY
1600s
Characterized by the German belief that their
language is superior to other languages
Tenets of Neoclassicism were formulated by Martin
Opitz
There was an obvious distinction between the
tragedies and dramas

THE 18 TH AND 19 TH CENTURIES

1700s

There were two opposing movements that concerns

poetic theory
(1)French classicist
(2) Followers of religious epic

Gotthold Lessing
introduced he concept of tragic experience
(-)He changed courtly tragedies into bourgeois drama
(-)He wrote Minna Von Barnhelm (1767) the best German
comedy

1767-1785

STURM AND DRANG MOVEMENT

was characterized by the praising of original genius and
demanding poetry of strong emotions
Founded by Johann Gottfried

1800s
the Romantic Movement in Germany started
-the aim of this movement is to present
regardless of any traditional forms

passion

QUIZ
On a crosswise tablet paper, answer the following questions:
1-2. What were the two opposing forces in the Early and Medieval German
Literature?
3. It is the Christian counterpart of The Song of Hildebrand._______
4. He was the one who introduced Classical Hexameter in the Early German
Literature.
5. The very first fable in Germany is _________________.
6. Who was known as the first German writer?
7. The greatest German epic is entitled __________________.
8. A person or a group of people who lives in a certain town is called_________.
9. Who translated bible into German?
10. A movement that was characterized by the praising of original
genius and demanding poetry of strong emotions is
______________________.