Goethes Faust: text – interpretation - reception

Goethes Faust is considered to be a pivotal work of German literature. For about 200 years it has remained in the public consciousness and maintained in the public an amazing vigor and actuality. The major focus of this seminar about Faust I is a careful analysis of the text which will consider structure, style, language as well as aspects of versification and dramaturgy. Origin and sources will be discussed as well biographical and historical background and the place of the drama in Goethes Gesamtwerk. Film versions of famous Faust productions will be compared, and different critical responses to Faust will be explored as well as the “modernity” of the play.

Required texts: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: Faust: Der Tragödie Erster Teil (Reclam Nr.1.); Ulrich Gaier: Kommentar zu Goethes Faust (Reclam Nr. 8183)