Reaiismusproblematik: sprachrealistisch nähergekommen Einige illustrative Beispiele

Abstract

After a brief introduction to the more prominent problems regarding literary realism, a concise account is given of some contemporary (German) authors’ views in this regard to pave the way for the argument that literary realism is fundamentally determined by the realism of language. The reliability regarding the soundness of language in the perception and reflection of reality is disputed, however, not only in view of the confusing jargon applied by the participants in the debate on literary realism, but even more so in the light of examples taken from the so-called ‘experimental literature’. Extracts from the following works are discussed:

• “Landstriche” , an Essay by Helmut Eisendle (1981) and
• Aus der Fremde, a “Sprechoper” (spoken opera/recitative) by Ernst Jandl (1980).