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Academic Year 2004/2005

Kafka and Jesus
GERM 264 SP

Crosslistings: COL 285 GELT 264

Clusters: Jewish and Israel Studies

One of the most interesting developments in Kafka scholarship of the last decade has been the impulse to contextualize his work, to demonstrate its connections to the literary and cultural environment from which it sprang. In this course, we will investigate critically what might be called the Jewish subtext of Kafka's work. While due attention will be given to studies that have emphasized analogies between his work and that of the Kabbalah and other Jewish mystical traditions, we will also consider the startling evidence in his work of an implicit synthesis of Jewish and Christian traditions. A focus of the course will in fact be Kafka's interest in the figure of Jesus, who was, after all, not only the Christian messiah but also a bachelor, a storyteller, and a Jew in crisis. The basic texts will comprise two of the three major novels, several stories, including those that may be read as artist narratives, and the diaries and letters.

MAJOR READINGS

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

COURSE FORMAT: Lecture/Discussion

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UGRD    Credit: 1    Gen Ed Area Dept: HA GERM    Grading Mode: Student Option   

Prerequisites: NONE

SECTION 01

Instructor(s): Lensing,Leo A.   

Times: ..T.R.. 01:10PM-02:30PM;     Location: FISK302;

Reserved Seats:    (Total Limit: UNL)

Special Attributes:

Last Updated on MAR-21-2005

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