Law in Literature Study Guide 2024-2025 PDF

**Law in Literature** **Study Guide** **COURSE OVERVIEW** **Introduction** Learning Outcomes **Unit 1 (Weeks 1-3): Paul Celan, "Todesfuge"** Paul Celan: An Introduction Analysis of "Todesfuge" **Essay-Writing: Tips and Advice** **Unit 2 (Weeks 4-7): Ferdinand von Schirach, *Terror*** Ferdi...

**Law in Literature** **Study Guide** **COURSE OVERVIEW** **Introduction** Learning Outcomes **Unit 1 (Weeks 1-3): Paul Celan, "Todesfuge"** Paul Celan: An Introduction Analysis of "Todesfuge" **Essay-Writing: Tips and Advice** **Unit 2 (Weeks 4-7): Ferdinand von Schirach, *Terror*** Ferdinand von Schirach: An Introduction Analysis of *Terror: Ein Theaterstück und eine Rede* **Unit 3 (Weeks 8-11): Franz Kafka** Frank Kafka: An Introduction Analysis of "Der Schlag ans Hoftor"/"Es war im Sommer..." Analysis of "Vor dem Gesetz" Portrayal of the Law and of the legal order **Week 12: In-house Essay** **Contact details:** Dr. Deirdre Byrnes Email: ; Tel.: +353 91 492014 Room: AMB2003, Arts Millennium Building **Where can I access the course materials?** The play *Terror* is available for purchase in the campus bookshop. The reader, study guide and short videos can be accessed in the content folder called "Law in Literature" on Canvas. The Reading List can also be accessed via Canvas. **How is this course assessed?** **Continuous assessment: 30%** **In-house essay in week 12 (November 29^th^): 70%** **Unit 1: Paul Celan, "Todesfuge"** Watch the video Paul Celan: An Introduction on Canvas. Watch the Youtube clip of Paul Celan reading "Todesfuge", also on Canvas. Read the poem "Todesfuge" in preparation for class and answer the following questions (make notes/write down some quotations that can form the basis of class discussion): What is a fugue? What could a death fugue be? Make notes on how this musical analogy works throughout the poem. The opening image "Schwarze Milch der Frühe" is one of the most famous opening lines in German poetry. What do you understand by the image? What do we normally associate with milk? How can it be black? What pronouns are used in the poem? Note the personal pronouns used (do these pronouns change in the course of the poem?). Also note the possessive pronouns used. As you read the poem, note down all the temporal adverbs (the first one is "abends" in the very first line). Can you establish a pattern? What do you think the function of these adverbs are? Now do the same for the spatial adverbs. The poet uses adjectives very sparingly. Why do you think this is the case? What is the effect of the adjectives used? The poet makes very effective use of alliteration in this poem. Can you give examples? There is repeated reference to "Margarete" and "Sulamith" in the poem. Who are these figures? Who do you think they represent? The chilling phrase "der Tod ist ein Meister aus Deutschland" is one of the most famous phrases in the poem. Why do you think "Meister" is used in this context? What is the effect? How do you interpret the final two lines of the poem? Is the order here (first Margarete, then Sulamith) significant? What role does repetition play in this poem? How does it relate to the fugal structure? **\ ** **Further Reading** **The below titles can be accessed via the Reading List on Canvas.** John Felstiner, *Paul Celan: Poet, Survivor, Jew* (Yale University Press, 1995) John Felstiner, "Paul Celan's *Todesfuge*", in *Holocaust and Genocide Studies*, 1.2 (1986), 249-64 Robert von Hallberg, "Celan's Universality", in *Michigan Quarterly Review*, XLV.2 (Spring 2006) **Unit 2: Ferdinand von Schirach, *Terror*** Watch the video Ferdinand von Schirach: An Introduction on Canvas. Watch the Youtube video clip from The Moral Side of Murder (on Canvas): How would you answer the questions Michael Sandel asks of the students? Make some notes and give reasons for your answers. (Note that a trolley cart is a type of tram). **Useful Vocabulary** der Angeklagte the accused das Bundesverfassungsgericht the Federal Constitutional Court, the highest court in Germany; it decides on the constitutionality of laws das Ermittlungsverfahren investigation proceedings der Freispruch the acquittal der Kläger the plaintiff der Mandant the client der Nebenkläger joint plaintiff; private party joining criminal proceedings (usual the victim of a crime) übergesetzlicher Notstand emergency beyond law der Protokollführer the person taking the minutes der Staatsanwalt the public prosecutor das Schwurgericht the court of first instance for major crimes, especially homicide offences Schöffen/Laienrichter lay judges das Strafgesetzbuch the German Criminal Code das Urteil the judgement der Verteidiger the defence lawyer die Veruteilung the conviction/sentencing der Vorsitzende the presiding judge der Wachtmeister the sergeant der Zeuge the witness **To help guide your reading and our discussion of *Terror*, I have divided the play into a number of sections, with questions and points of reflection on each.** Please make notes/write down some quotations which can form the basis of class discussion. Here are some questions for you to consider as you read. **ERSTER AKT** **Pages 7-9: Der Vorsitzende** In the first section the presiding judge speaks directly to the audience. What instructions does he give them? **Pages 9-17 (top): Lars Koch (der Angeklagte)** Of what exactly is Lars Koch accused? (p. 15-16) **Pages 17-23: Der Verteidiger** Note down the arguments that the defence lawyer makes **defending** Lars Koch's decision to shoot down the hijacked plane. On page 18 the defence lawyer references the Luftsicherheitsgesetz (German Aviation Security Law). What exactly is this? What decision did the Bundesverfassungsgericht arrive at in relation to this particular law? According to the defence lawyer, "Wir müssen verstehen, dass es Grenzen für die Prinzipien unserer Verfassung gibt." (p. 20) Do you agree? Can you give some examples? **Pages 23-63: Christian Lauterbach (der Zeuge)** This is quite a long section in which Christian Lauterbach recounts what happened on the night of the aeroplane hijacking. Jot down the timeline of events, including the various instructions issued to Lars Koch from Christian Lauterbach on that fateful evening. **Page 63 (bottom) -- Page 81: Lars Koch** In this section the focus switches back to Lars Koch. We learn of his upbringing, education and extremely specialised training to become a fighter pilot (Kampfpilot). What thoughts went through Lars Koch's head before he took the decision to shoot down the hijacked plane (p. 72)? On page 79 we learn that Lars Koch had considered legal issues very closely during his training to be a fighter pilot. He had even given a presentation to younger pilots on the decision of the Bundesverfassungsgericht (first referenced on p.18) in relation to the Luftsicherungsgesetz. How does he view the decision? (pp. 81-83 and also p. 95) **Pages 81-98** **Die** **Staatsanwältin** Note down the arguments that the public prosecutor makes **against** Lars Koch's decision to shoot down the hijacked plane. **Pages 98-110 Franziska Meiser (Nebenklägerin)** Franziska Meiser's husband was killed when the hijacked plane was shot down. What very important question does Franziska Meier ask? Why is the answer to this particular question so important (pp. 106-107) **ZWEITER AKT\ Pages 114-124: Schlussvortrag der Staatsanwältin** Note down the main arguments that the public prosecutor makes in her concluding speech. What sentences strike you as being particularly important? **Trolley Cart Problem (Weichenstellerfall)** On pages 116 and 117 the public prosecutor describes the "Weichenstellerfall". When you have read this case, rewatch this Youtube clip in which Harvard's Professor Michael Standel discusses the trolley cart dilemma with students: "Recht und Moral müssen streng voneinander getrennt werden" (p. 119), the public prosecutor argues -- do you agree? On page 120 the public prosecutor refers directly to Art. 1 of the Grundgesetz: "Die Würde des Menschen ist unantastbar." How does she relate this to her closing argument? Do you agree with the following assertions from the public prosecutor? "Nur wenn wir \[...\] ihre Prinzipien, wenn wir die Würde des Menschen immer und überall achten, werden wir in den Zeiten des Terrors als freie Gesellschaft überleben können." (p. 123) "Wir werden von allen Seiten bedroht \[...\] Aber in dieser Situation gilt es umso mehr, dass wir uns auf die Prinzipien des Rechtsstaats verlassen." (p. 123) **Pages 124-130: Schlussvortrag des Verteidigers** Note down the main arguments that the defence lawyer makes in his concluding speech. What sentences strike you as being particularly important? What two examples does he give on pages 127 and 128 to support his plea for "das kleinere Übel" (p. 128) **Urteile:** **Pages 134-140:** **Verurteilung** Can you summarise the main arguments that result in the conviction of Lars Koch? How is The Queen versus Dudley and Stephens case relevant here? **Pages 141-144: Freispruch** Can you summarise the main arguments that result in the acquittal of Lars Koch? **Key Questions** "Durfte Lars Koch... 164 Menschen töten?" (p. 19) "Gibt es Situationen in unserem Leben, in denen es richtig, vernünftig und klug ist, Menschen zu töten?" (p. 19) "Ich glaube nur, dass es richtig ist, wenige Menschen zu töten, um viele zu retten." (p. 83) "Dürfen wir Unschuldige töten, um andere Unschuldige zu retten? Und ist es eine Frage der Zahl?" (p. 114-115) **Further Reading** [Interviews with Ferdinand von Schirach] "Terror: Theatre as Discussion on Ethics and Law": [Review] (accessible via the Reading List on Blackboard) Tom Keatridge, "A Modern-Day Trolley Problem: A Review of Terror", *RUSI Journal*, 162:3, 84-86 **Unit 3: Franz Kafka** Watch the video Franz Kafka: An Introduction on Canvas. "Der Schlag ans Hoftor" and "Vor dem Gesetz" can both be described as parables. What is a parable? **‟Der Schlag ans Hoftorˮ** (also published as ‟Es war im Sommer...ˮ) Please read this short text by Franz Kafka and make notes/write down some quotations which can form the basis of classroom discussion. Here are some questions for you to consider as you read. What kind of atmosphere is evoked in the opening lines of the story? As you read, make notes on the setting. How and at what points in the story does the setting change? Describe the relationship between the narrator and his sister. Why does the sister knock on the door? Or does she? How do the villagers react to this action? Make a note of the legal terms -- nouns, verbs -- that are used in the story. Are they positive, negative or neutral, in your opinion? How is the arrival of the Reiter (horsemen) described? Does the atmosphere change with their arrival? If so, how? What do the horsemen want? How does the narrator react to them and their request? The reader learns that one of the horsemen is a judge (Richter). How is he described in the text? The narrator crosses the threshold into the Stube (room). This appears to be a turning point in the story. Why? How is this room described? How do you interpret the chilling final line of the text? How is the legal system/legal order portrayed in this text? What, in your opinion, is the moral of this parable? **‟Vor dem Gesetzˮ** Watch the video Franz Kafka: An Introduction on Canvas. Watch the Youtube video: Frank Kafka -- Vor dem Gesetz (on Canvas). In preparation for class please read "Vor dem Gesetz" and make notes/write down some quotations which can form the basis of class discussion. Here are some questions for you to consider as you read. What do you associate with the word "Gesetz"? How would you translate the title into English? There are just two characters in this story -- the Türhüter (doorman) and the Mann vom Lande. Read through the story slowly, making notes on how each character is described in terms of physical appearance (does this change in the course of the story?), traits and behaviour. At the very beginning of the story, we learn that the Mann vom Lande asks for "Eintritt in das Gesetz". Do we know or find out why he wants this? What does he say and do in his attempts to achieve this aim? How does the doorman initially respond to the man's request? He continues to deter the man. What does he tell him? "das Gesetz soll doch jedem und immer zugänglich sein, denkt der Mann" is a key quotation in this story -- consider the theme of access (Zugang) to the Law in this text Consider the sentence "Dort sitzt er Tage und Jahre". Make notes on how time is depicted in this text. Describe the many different attempts that the man makes as he tries to gain entry to the Law. The man ages; the doorman does not. Why, in your opinion, is this the case? As the man nears his death, he sees, despite his failing eyesight, "im Dunkel einen Glanz, der unverlöschlich aus der Türe des Gesetzes bricht". How do you interpret this image? What does the doorman tell the dying man at the very end of the text? How do you interpret this ending? How is the Law portrayed in this text? How is the legal system depicted? **Further Reading** **The titles below can be accessed via the Reading List on Canvas.** Banakar, Reza, "In Search of Heimat: A Note on Kafka's Concept of Law, in *Law in Literature*, 22.3 (Fall 2010), 463-490 Buonamono, Roberto, "Kafka and Legal Critique", in *Griffith Law Review*, 25.4, 581-599 Glen, Patrick J., "The Deconstruction and Reification of Law in Franz Kafka\'s \'Before the Law\' and \'The Trial\'", in [*Southern California Interdisciplinary Law Journal,* 17.1 (2007),](https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1354703) 23-66 Koelb, Clayton, *Kafka: A Guide for the Perplexed* (London and New York: Continuum, 2010) Preece, Julian, ed., *The Cambridge Companion to Kafka* (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2002) **Further Listening** **Podcasts** Kafka, Kant and Lost Capitals: (from 05:30) (part of the podcast series "Germany: Memories of a Nation") Conversations on Kafka, University of Oxford (with a focus on Kakfa's "Die Verwandlung"): **Websites** Kafka Museum, Prague: