Karl-Heinz Schönfelder
Encyclopedia
Karl-Heinz Schönfelder is a German historian of modern literature
and the founder of American studies
at the University of Leipzig
.
Schönfelder had been a Prisoner of war
in American captivity. Since 1948, he had a teaching practice for dealing in American English at Karl Marx University in Leipzig. In 1950 he earned his Ph.D degree with a dissertation on Sinclair Lewis
as a social and cultural critic. From 1953 he also gave lectures about the history of the United States. 1954 he earned his habilitation about international problems regarding the mixing of peoples and languages including the aspects of German words feud heritage in American English.
Together wth his assistant Eberhard Brüning from 1955 Schönfelder headed the Departement of American Studies at the Institute of Anglistic and American Studies. Even after his appointment at Jena (1956–1963) Schönfelder stood a visiting scholar at Leipzig. Schönfelder always tried to highlight the "socialist" side of American literature, for example in 19th century works. He also wrote numerous pre-and postscripts for translations of American literature, for example to several works of Mark Twain or Ernest Hemingway.
History of modern literature
The history of literature in the Modern period in Europe begins with the Age of Enlightenment and the conclusion of the Baroque period in the 18th century, succeeding the Renaissance and Early Modern periods....
and the founder of American studies
American studies
American studies or American civilization is an interdisciplinary field dealing with the study of the United States. It traditionally incorporates the study of history, literature, and critical theory, but also includes fields as diverse as law, art, the media, film, religious studies, urban...
at the University of Leipzig
University of Leipzig
The University of Leipzig , located in Leipzig in the Free State of Saxony, Germany, is one of the oldest universities in the world and the second-oldest university in Germany...
.
Biography
During World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Schönfelder had been a Prisoner of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
in American captivity. Since 1948, he had a teaching practice for dealing in American English at Karl Marx University in Leipzig. In 1950 he earned his Ph.D degree with a dissertation on Sinclair Lewis
Sinclair Lewis
Harry Sinclair Lewis was an American novelist, short-story writer, and playwright. In 1930, he became the first writer from the United States to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, "for his vigorous and graphic art of description and his ability to create, with wit and humor, new types of...
as a social and cultural critic. From 1953 he also gave lectures about the history of the United States. 1954 he earned his habilitation about international problems regarding the mixing of peoples and languages including the aspects of German words feud heritage in American English.
Together wth his assistant Eberhard Brüning from 1955 Schönfelder headed the Departement of American Studies at the Institute of Anglistic and American Studies. Even after his appointment at Jena (1956–1963) Schönfelder stood a visiting scholar at Leipzig. Schönfelder always tried to highlight the "socialist" side of American literature, for example in 19th century works. He also wrote numerous pre-and postscripts for translations of American literature, for example to several works of Mark Twain or Ernest Hemingway.