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Methodic reflected dealings with literary texts and the development of a reasoned understanding of the text; Reconsider patterns and habits of reading

At first, our course outlines the historical evolution of the genres from the late 18th century to the present, followed by a quick overview of the genre’s spectrum, focusing on modernist stories and novels

Secondly, by using different theoretical and methodical approaches, we will try to define the characteristics of horror and fantasy fiction and answer the question how they can be delimited from each other. Which topics and motifs are preferred? Are these subject to specific diachronic changes and discourses? In support, various media approaches (e.g. movies, fine art, computer games, etc.) will be implied. The theoretical basis will be exemplified by individual interpretations of selected texts. Finally, we will examine if certain social dispositions in times of crisis lead to an increased output of horror and fantasy fiction.

Presentation, Discussion, Team work
Others (movies, pictures,…)

Prepared cooperation (readings) and disposition to discuss various matters
Short presentation
Seminar paper

Texts:

• Heinrich von Kleist: Das Bettelweib von Locarno (1810)
• E.T.A. Hoffmann: Der Sandmann (1816)
• Theodor Storm: Der Schimmelreiter (1888)
• Oskar Panizza: Das Wirtshaus zur Dreifaltigkeit (1893)
• Hugo von Hofmannsthal: Reitergeschichte (1899)
• Hanns Heinz Ewers: Das Grauen. Seltsame Geschichten (1908)
• Alfred Kubin: Die andere Seite (1909)
• Arthur Schnitzler: Das Tagebuch der Redegonda (1911)
• Gustav Meyrink: Der Golem (1915)
• Franz Kafka: Die Verwandlung (1915)
• Thea von Harbou: Die Masken des Todes (1915)
• Leo Perutz: St. Petri Schnee (1933)
• Marieluise Kaschnitz: Vogel Rock. Unheimliche Geschichten (1969)
• Der gewöhnliche Schrecken. Horrorgeschichten herausgegeben von Peter Handke (1969)

Research literature:

• Hans Richard Brittnacher: Kindler Kompakt: Horrorliteratur. Stuttgart: Metzler 2017.
• Hans Richard Brittnacher; Markus May (Hg.): Phantastik. Ein interdisziplinäres Handbuch. Stuttgart: Metzler 2013.
• Sigmund Freud: Das Unheimliche. In: Sigmund Freud: Studienausgabe, Bd. IV (Psychologische Schriften). Frankfurt/Main 1970, S. 241–274.
• Winfried Freund: Deutsche Phantastik. München: Fink 1999.
• Stephen King: Horrorliteratur. In: ders.: Danse Macabre. Die Welt des Horrors. Aus dem Amerikanischen von Joachim Körber. München: Ullstein 2000, S. 404-618.
• Christian W. Thomsen; Jens Malte Fischer: Phantastik in Literatur und Kunst. Darmstadt: Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft 1980.
• Tzvetan Todorov: Einführung in die fantastische Literatur. Berlin: Wagenbach 2013.
• Rein A. Zondergeld; Holger E. Wiedenstried: Lexikon der phantastischen Literatur. Frankfurt/Main: Suhrkamp 1983.

Further relevant literature will be announced in the first session.