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Siegfried Lenz's Das Vorbild: Reflection on the Controversial Meaning of an Exemplary Model Through Main Characters

Received: 5 April 2019     Accepted: 20 May 2019     Published: 12 June 2019
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Abstract

Three educators are given the task of completing the textbooks representing Germany by the Ministry of Education. They have a lot of discussion to find an exemplary model that young people can trust and follow in their textbook. However, despite their numerous discussions, their assessment and judgment on a role model do not reach consensus. The private stories of the main characters in this work allows us to reflect on the appropriateness and legitimacy of these characters who play a role in presenting the exemplary model to others. In other words, they must undergo a process of review by writers and readers in the process of finding a role model. This work has educational intent in that the discussion surrounding the example implies the inevitability of doubt and the impossibility of absolute truth to readers. It is natural that they can’t find an exemplary model. Because the author Lenz thought that modern people are living in a society that is open to education and that society should maintain cooperation among different forms of life in social free space. Textbooks where a variety of exemplary models are discussed and different ways of life and different modes of behavior are allowed are justified. Clearly, there is no absolute role model without any doubt, and the absolute model must always be retractable. Lenz sets the example to critical questions. He just questions and doubts. This is because he wants to teach his readers.

Published in International Journal of Literature and Arts (Volume 7, Issue 2)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijla.20190702.12
Page(s) 43-48
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2019. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Exemplary Model, Main Characters, Educational Intent, Inevitability of Doubt, Impossibility of Absolute Truth

References
[1] Der Autor im Gespräch. in: SDR 2, 2. 11. 1973.
[2] Pätzold, Harmut. Zeitgeschichte und Zeitkritik im Werk von S. Lenz. In: H. L. Arnold (Hg.): Text + Kritik, H. 52, Siegfried Lenz, München 1982, 10.
[3] Lenz, Siegfried. Beziehungen, Ansichten und Bekenntnisse zur Literatur, Hamburg, Hoffmann und Campe, 1970, 11-41.
[4] Lenz, Siegfried. Das Vorbild, Hamburg, Hoffmann und Campe, 1973.
[5] Baßmann, Winfried. Siegfried Lenz, Bonn, Bouvier, 1978, 178.
[6] Reber, Trudis. Siegfried Lenz. Köpfe des 20. Jahrhunderts, Berlin, Colloquium Verlag, 1973, 83.
[7] Meyer, Hans. Das Vorbild - Nachsitzen der Deutschstunde, in: Der Spiegel. Nr. 34 vom 20. 8. 1973. 93; Murdoch, B./M. Read. Siegfried Lenz, London, Oswald Wolff, 1978, 77.
[8] Schramm, Goderhard. Wiedererkennen der Wirklichkeit. Über Das Vorbild von Siegfried Lenz. In: H. L. Arnold (Hg.), Deutsche Bestseller. Deutsche Ideologie. Ansätze zu einer Verbraucherpoetik, Stuttgart, Ernst Klett, 1975, 92.
[9] Höpfke, Horst. Skeptische Suche nach einem Vorbild – ergebnislos. Der neue Roman von Siegfried Lenz. In: Frankfurter Rundschau vom 1. 9. 1973.
[10] Der Autor im Gespräch. in: SDR 2, 2. 11. 1973.
[11] Batt, Kurt. Geschichten kontra Geschichte. Über die Erzählungen und Romane von Siegfried Lenz. In: Revolte intern. Betrachtungen zur Literatur in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland. Leipzig, Beck C. H., 1975, 205; Elm, Theo. zeitgeschichte als moralisches Lehrstück. In: Hans Wagener (Hg.), Gegenwartsliteratur und Drittens Reich. Stuttgart, Reclam, 1977, 222-240.
[12] Interview mit Siegfried Lenz (1973): Kölner Stadtanzeiger, 16. 11. 1973.
[13] Die Zeit (1973): Ein Vorbild reicht nicht aus, von Werner Klose, Nr. 42, 12. 10. 1973.
[14] Der Lenz, dem der Herbs gehört (1973): in: Sender Freies Berlin, 9. 10. 1973.
[15] Nolte, Jost (1973): Herausforderung mit verstellter Stimme, in: Siegfried Lenz- Unteile und Standpunkte, Hrsg. Colin Russ, Hamburg, Hoffmann und Campe, 24.
[16] Lenz, Siegfried (1970): Beziehungen, Ansichten und Bekenntnisse zur Literatur, Hamburg, Hoffmann und Campe, 50-63.
[17] Beckmann, Heinz (1973): Vorbild ohne Chloroform, in: Siegfried Lenz, Urteile und Standpunkte, Hrsg. Colin Russ, Hamburg, Hoffmann und Campe, 16.
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  • APA Style

    Kim Dongjo. (2019). Siegfried Lenz's Das Vorbild: Reflection on the Controversial Meaning of an Exemplary Model Through Main Characters. International Journal of Literature and Arts, 7(2), 43-48. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijla.20190702.12

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    ACS Style

    Kim Dongjo. Siegfried Lenz's Das Vorbild: Reflection on the Controversial Meaning of an Exemplary Model Through Main Characters. Int. J. Lit. Arts 2019, 7(2), 43-48. doi: 10.11648/j.ijla.20190702.12

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    AMA Style

    Kim Dongjo. Siegfried Lenz's Das Vorbild: Reflection on the Controversial Meaning of an Exemplary Model Through Main Characters. Int J Lit Arts. 2019;7(2):43-48. doi: 10.11648/j.ijla.20190702.12

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijla.20190702.12,
      author = {Kim Dongjo},
      title = {Siegfried Lenz's Das Vorbild: Reflection on the Controversial Meaning of an Exemplary Model Through Main Characters},
      journal = {International Journal of Literature and Arts},
      volume = {7},
      number = {2},
      pages = {43-48},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijla.20190702.12},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijla.20190702.12},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijla.20190702.12},
      abstract = {Three educators are given the task of completing the textbooks representing Germany by the Ministry of Education. They have a lot of discussion to find an exemplary model that young people can trust and follow in their textbook. However, despite their numerous discussions, their assessment and judgment on a role model do not reach consensus. The private stories of the main characters in this work allows us to reflect on the appropriateness and legitimacy of these characters who play a role in presenting the exemplary model to others. In other words, they must undergo a process of review by writers and readers in the process of finding a role model. This work has educational intent in that the discussion surrounding the example implies the inevitability of doubt and the impossibility of absolute truth to readers. It is natural that they can’t find an exemplary model. Because the author Lenz thought that modern people are living in a society that is open to education and that society should maintain cooperation among different forms of life in social free space. Textbooks where a variety of exemplary models are discussed and different ways of life and different modes of behavior are allowed are justified. Clearly, there is no absolute role model without any doubt, and the absolute model must always be retractable. Lenz sets the example to critical questions. He just questions and doubts. This is because he wants to teach his readers.},
     year = {2019}
    }
    

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    AB  - Three educators are given the task of completing the textbooks representing Germany by the Ministry of Education. They have a lot of discussion to find an exemplary model that young people can trust and follow in their textbook. However, despite their numerous discussions, their assessment and judgment on a role model do not reach consensus. The private stories of the main characters in this work allows us to reflect on the appropriateness and legitimacy of these characters who play a role in presenting the exemplary model to others. In other words, they must undergo a process of review by writers and readers in the process of finding a role model. This work has educational intent in that the discussion surrounding the example implies the inevitability of doubt and the impossibility of absolute truth to readers. It is natural that they can’t find an exemplary model. Because the author Lenz thought that modern people are living in a society that is open to education and that society should maintain cooperation among different forms of life in social free space. Textbooks where a variety of exemplary models are discussed and different ways of life and different modes of behavior are allowed are justified. Clearly, there is no absolute role model without any doubt, and the absolute model must always be retractable. Lenz sets the example to critical questions. He just questions and doubts. This is because he wants to teach his readers.
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Author Information
  • German Language and Literature, College of Humanities, Pusan University, Pusan, Republic of Korea

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