Zugl.: Duisburg, Essen, Univ., Diss., 2008.

Konstanz, Univ., Diplomarb., 1999.

Zugl.: Ljubljana, Univ., Diss., 2008 u.d.T.: Leskovec, Andrea: Interkulturelle Hermeneutik und Fremdverstehen

Marcel Reich-Ranickis statement concerning the sonnet in Wagner's opera "Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg" is wrong

the android in literature and film, a survey

review of an anthology of essays concerning the two German poets Gleim and Bürger

The German author Gottfried August Buerger estimated Lessing's works, but they hadn't any influence on his poetical products. Nevertheless in his later theoretical writings Buerger mentioned Lessing as an important model.

In the 80s and 90s of the 20th century Günter Grass treated the various chances of a sudden extinction of mankind for instance the decline by overpopulation and nuclear destruction. So the study deals with five main aspects to show Grass' own criticism of civilisation. The thesis at hand shall be a contribution to describe the significance of these various topics concerning Grass' prose, essayistic works and statements during the last 25 years.

The doctoral thesis 'Comme un roman policier: Daniel Pennacs Malaussène-Serie als Spielart des Kriminalromans' delivers a thorough analysis of a popular French series consisting of five novels which are rooted in crime literature. The contemporary French author Daniel Pennac makes a playful use of elements characteristic both of the detective novel als well as the thriller. Aspects of the analysis include the structure of the novels, techniques of narration, depiction of society, methods of detection and use of language. Based on René Girard's scapegoat-theory Pennac creates the tragicomic hero of Benjamin Malaussène. Besides the exceptional protagonist, the rest of the Malaussène-universe can be divided into a 'good' in-group and a 'bad' out-group. Pennac draws rough sketches of the characters by using stereotypes and the inversion of stereotypes. By these means Pennac reveals by which absurd and paradoxical mechanisms the contemporary Western society often works. Concerning the detection, the author does not stick to traditional methods, but extents the intruments of knowledge to the supernatural. Theses variations of detective novel and thriller regarding the contents are presented in an elaborated and metaphorical style which furthermore contains innumerable reflections on language and literature. The thesis concludes with a classification of Pennac's Malaussène-Saga within the frame of modern French as well as crime literature.

Throughout nineteen chapters the problems of teaching grammar are discussed. Only recently the argument whether grammar is useful or not has been newly engaged. Just like an encyclopaedia the major factors in this argument are presented here. This Work includes an extensive collection of source material and bibliographic notes. The different position of the discussion are critically analysed and the demands and requirements for teaching grammar are clearified.