2007-08 BM1: Session 2

Back to 2007-08 BM1 Introduction to the Critical and Scholarly Discussion of Literature, Part 1

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• Our present histories of literature show different periodisations
• Two positions towards periods should at least be reflected:

• Periods exist with each period producing its own special works. The literature of a period helps us to understand the frame of mind of the respective era.
• We produce ever changing periodisations to prove historical developments we want to claim as parts of our cultural heritage. We base our notions of these developments on a canon of literary works which we select and interpret so that they will fit into the respective period.

• History and the past have played entirely different roles over the centuries.
• The future is a relatively new invention of our historical debate.
• If you do written work on the university level

• Do not open your seminar papers with explanations of the spirit of the period - which you feel your reader might need to understand the work you want to write about.
• You can discuss common notions we have about these periods (as to be found in Wikipedia, the Encyclopedia Britannica or in specific scientific works) critically - that is if you feel they distorted our view on materials of this period.