Foolish humor in the German Democratic Republic: Hermann Kant's "Der Aufenthalt", Irmtraud Morgner's "Amanda. Ein Hexenroman", and Volker Braun's "Hinze-Kunze-Roman"
Sager, Kurt Matthew
Master of Arts
The literature of the German Democratic Republic is not always a serious realm where problems of German fascism, East-West relations, and Marxist class struggle are treated in the sober manner of socialist realism. Currently, the character of the fool appears in various guises adding humor and depth to the literary analysis of these problems. Hermann Kant's Der Aufenthalt examines problems through the eyes of a picaresque fool. Humor is produced by various means. In Irmtraud Morgner's Amanda, the satiric Eulenspiegel uses similar techniques to criticize and to encourage change through laughter. Volker Braun's Hinze-Kunze-Roman explores the relationship of leader and led through the humor of a fool-like modern comedy team.