Popular Cultural Study on the "Curiosity"-Narrative Collections in Early Modern Germany

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25370357
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: European literature
• Research Institution: Nara Women's University
• Principal Investigator: YOSHIDA TAKAO 奈良女子大学, 人文科学系, 准教授 (40340426)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 奇譚集 / プレトーリウス / 好奇心 / ルネサンス / グリンメルスハウゼン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Based on a group of works called "curiosity"-narrative collections which was disseminated to the German-speaking region of early modern epoch, I revealed the mental-historical features of this era. This was a great epidemic reading that was numerously publicated from the 16th century to the 18th century, accumulating the mysterious events of the world to serve bourgeoisie readers in cities. The negative "curiosity" view since Augustine underwent value change in the Renaissance period, and a unique interest in diverse phenomena and incidents of this world arise. Specifically, based on Tannhaeuser and Arlaune tradition, I analyzed the unique political implications of the discourse and the people's beliefs to the late medival times and the early modern era before they were given modern interpretations later by the Grimm brothers. Also in this connection, the importance of early modern writer Grinmelshausen was revealed.

Free Research Field

独文学