literary history
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literary history
The academic discipline that deals with the historical development of the literature of a language area or cultural region.
Sie studiert Germanistik mit dem Schwerpunkt auf der deutschen Literaturgeschichte des 19. Jahrhunderts.
She is studying German studies with a focus on 19th-century German literary history.
The word is made up of 'Literatur' (literature) and 'Geschichte' (history). The 's' in between is a linking s that connects the two parts. So it literally means the history of literature.
Die deutsche Literaturgeschichte ist reich an berühmten Autoren.
German literary history is rich in famous authors.
You can often recognize the exact meaning from the verb. If someone 'studiert' (studies) or 'lehrt' (teaches) Literaturgeschichte (literary history), the academic discipline is meant. If someone 'liest' (reads) or 'kauft' (buys) eine Literaturgeschichte (a literary history), a book is meant. If an author 'in die Literaturgeschichte eingeht' (goes down in literary history), the historical development is meant.
Er liest gerade eine spannende Literaturgeschichte über die Romantik.
He is currently reading an exciting literary history about Romanticism.
When referring to historical development, the phrase 'in die Literaturgeschichte eingehen' (to go down in literary history) is often used. It means that a work or author is recognized as historically significant.
Mit diesem einen Roman ging die Autorin in die Literaturgeschichte ein.
With this one novel, the author went down in literary history.
German studies
'Germanistik' and 'Literaturgeschichte' can both have to do with literature and academic work. That is why they are easy to confuse. However, 'Germanistik' is the broader subject: it deals with the German language and German-language literature, both present-day and historical. 'Literaturgeschichte' is narrower. It means the development of literature over time, for example periods, authors, and works. It can be part of 'Germanistik', but it can also refer to the literature of another language area or cultural region. In addition, 'Literaturgeschichte' can also mean a book about this development. For the field of study, you are more likely to say 'Germanistik' (German studies); for the historical development of literature, 'Literaturgeschichte' (literary history) is more appropriate.
Im Seminar lesen wir eine Literaturgeschichte des 19. Jahrhunderts.
In the seminar, we are reading a literary history of the 19th century.
Nach dem Abitur möchte Sofia Germanistik studieren, weil sie Sprache und Literatur spannend findet.
After finishing school, Sofia wants to study German studies because she finds language and literature exciting.