LFU:online

Methodically supported, text-oriented interpretation of selected plays; ability to identify and to describe the relation between literary and cultural history, institutional aspects as well as the social and political life in the outstanding city of Vienna of the 19th century.

Melting pot of languages and cultures, the city of dance and concerts, of technical progress and Biedermeier cosiness, of social grievances and political unrest, of cultural flourishing and strict censorship: this was Vienna in the 19th century - but above all it was the city of theatre. The epoch had a strong impact on the development of Austrian literature. A highly professional theatre developed in the court and national theatres, in the opera houses and in the many newly founded commercial theatres. Classical tragedy is joined by magic plays, comedies and parodies, musical comedies and operettas. Competition and censorship complicate the daily work of theatre professionals and yet function as a driving force for creativity. Institutional peculiarities, but also socio-political changes are reflected in the literary texts. Above all, however, it also becomes visible that dramas are changeable texts created within networks of a lively scene.

Short frontal lectures, analysis and discussion of the texts based on kick-off presentations and individual reading of the texts

Participation in class and preparation at home (reading of the texts!), kick-off presentations, contribution to the discussion, short exam (discussion of the texts) at the end of semester, written paper (8 pages)

(a final reading list will be handed out at the beginning of the semester)

Adolf Bäuerle: Die Bürger in Wien (1813)

Franz Grillparzer: Sappho (1818)

Ferdinand Raimund: Der Alpenkönig und der Menschenfeind (1828)

Carl Meisl: Othellerl, der Mohr von Wien oder Die geheilte Eifersucht (1829)

Ferdinand Raimund: Der Verschwender (1836)

Johann Nestroy: Der Talisman (1840)

Johann Nestroy: Der Zerrissene (1844)

Friedrich Hebbel: Judith (1840)

Johann Nestoy: Judith und Holofernes (1849)

Franz Grillparzer: Die Jüdin von Toledo (1855) (Theaterbesuch)

Cf. Curriculum