GM1BG: Belonging in Germany

Module code: GM1BG

Module provider: Languages and Cultures; School of Humanities

Credits: 20

Level: Level 1 (Certificate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Dr Alice Christensen, email: a.r.christensen@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: na

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 2 October 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

Students on this module will examine changing ideas of national belonging (and exclusion) in Germany, as reflected in literature and film. Based on the close reading of texts and films, students will analyse different modes of storytelling which includes the analysis of formal text/film features and key topics. These insights will be related to the general question how belonging is defined in different periods of German history. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Describe and explain the origins of the notion of a shared German literature and language. 
2. Critically discuss the notion of ‘Heimat’ in German culture, and how it has changed in the modern period, with reference to examples from primary and secondary resources. 
3. Perform close and critical reading and analysis of selected literature/ film from the eighteenth century to the present day, interpreting the meaning of these texts/films. 
4. Engage with sources in an original way, asking innovatiove questions.

Module content

We start in the eighteenth century, considering how the Brothers Grimm developed the notion of a shared, native German language and literature through their fairy-tale collection (Kinder- und Hausmärchen) and German dictionary (Deutsches Wörterbuch). By studying a selection of German literature (including graphic novels), and film, we then consider how German speakers have understood and questioned the notion of ‘Heimat’ (homeland) in the modern period. We discuss the destruction of the German Jewish community under Nazism and the ways in which East and West Germans created a new sense of belonging after the Second World War. Finally, we consider how immigration and the theory of transnationalism have expanded the notion of ‘German’ literature since re-unification in 1989. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Lectures and seminars.

Study hours

At least 22 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: /cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Students submit an essay plan by the end of week 7.

Reassessment

Additional costs