HU Credits:
2
Degree/Cycle:
1st degree (Bachelor)
Responsible Department:
german, russian & east european studies
Semester:
1st Semester
Teaching Languages:
German
Campus:
Mt. Scopus
Course/Module Coordinator:
Prof Birgit Erdle
Coordinator Office Hours:
Monday, 14.30 – 16.00 and by appointment
Teaching Staff:
Prof Birgit Erdle
Course/Module description:
Stefan Zweig's “Memories of a European” (“Erinnerungen eines Europäers”), first published in German in 1942 and originally titled “The World of Yesterday” (“Die Welt von gestern”) is considered a compendium of European intellectual life in the first half of the 20th century. What makes Stefan Zweig's memoir, written in exile between 1939 and 1941 - the last few years of his life - relevant for us today? From the beginning, this author's thoughts had been, in his words, “focussed solely on the European, the supranational”. What do readers today, who concern themselves with 20th century European history, gain from this knowledge, from this legacy, when faced with current conflicts and a renewed nationalism?
Course/Module aims:
The course will introduce students to the work of Stefan Zweig and open up his "Memories" as an archive and compendium of European intellectual life in the first half of the 20th century
Learning outcomes - On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:
Improve German language skills
Reflect on European History in the first half of the 20th century from the perspective of a contemporary witness Understand certain fundamental constellations in European political and intellectual thought
Discuss relations between Jewish history and German/European history
Reflect on the concepts of 'nationalism', 'exile', 'european'
Interpret primary texts and critically evaluate arguments in secondary texts
Reflect on methodological problems in analyzing literary texts
Attendance requirements(%):
80 %
Teaching arrangement and method of instruction:
2 hours seminar
student presentations
Course/Module Content:
What makes Stefan Zweig's memoir, written in exile between 1939 and 1941, relevant for us today? From the beginning, this author's thoughts had been, in his words, “focussed solely on the European, the supranational”. What do readers today, who concern themselves with 20th century European history, gain from this knowledge, from this legacy, when faced with current conflicts and a renewed nationalism?
We will read selected passages from Zweig's book in German; based on the Hebrew translation published in 2012:
העולם של אתמול: זיכרונות של בן אירופה / סטפן צוויג; מגרמנית: צבי ארד; אחרית דבר: ד"ר גלילי שחר.
Required Reading:
העולם של אתמול : זיכרונות של בן אירופה / סטפן צוויג ; מגרמנית: צבי ארד ; אחרית דבר: ד"ר גלילי שחר.
Die Welt von Gestern. Hebrew
(2012)
Additional Reading Material:
Course/Module evaluation:
End of year written/oral examination 0 %
Presentation 40 %
Participation in Tutorials 0 %
Project work 30 %
Assignments 0 %
Reports 0 %
Research project 0 %
Quizzes 0 %
Other 30 %
Activity in seminar discussion
Additional information:
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