Palimpsests on German reunification: Functions of Theodor Fontane's novels and poetry in Guenter Grass' 'Too Far Afield' (German text)

This dissertation examines the functions of intertextuality with Theodor Fontane's fiction in Gunter Grass' 1995 reunification novel Too Far Afield. The initial critical reception of the novel overemphasized the political message while neglecting its many other aspects. In contrast, this study differentiates between four key functions of intertextuality in Too Far Afield: metatextuality, political criticism, the psychology of violence and literary playfulness. The second chapter of this analysis focuses on the metatextual commentary regarding Fontane's women's novels such as Effi Briest, to which Grass not only alludes, but which he also discusses and critiques. The subsequent chapter studies the political criticism of German reunification conveyed in Too Far Afield. Grass draws upon Fontane's Frau Jenny Treibel, a satire on the bourgeoisie, to blame both the greedy speculators and the Treuhand agency for the rapid demise of the East German economy; likewise, both The Stechlin and Fontane's poetry are used to criticize nationalistic undertones in Germany. Chapter Four analyzes the role of victim and perpetrator in Too Far Afield, examining the use of Fontane's criminalistic stories Quitt and Grete Minde to explain the murder of Treuhand boss Karsten Rohwedder. Finally, Chapter Five reveals the playful nature of Grass' dealings with Fontane's works.; To date, this dissertation is the first detailed examination of the intertextuality in Grass' Too Far Afield. The study applies literary theories on intertextuality to determine the function and significance of references. At the same time, it integrates the aspect of reception, since the reader's knowledge of Fontane's oeuvre is strongly influenced by the interpretation of Grass' text. The analysis of citations reveals that Grass selectively chooses quotations to serve his main purpose—the whole-hearted criticism of German reunification—while frequently distorting the original meaning. However, by presenting several different voices, Grass does attempt to provide a balanced and honest picture of Fontane's political and artistic position—and to be sure, in this order. Intertextuality in Too Far Afield recreates the polyphony and the subtly ironical atmosphere of Fontane's texts and can perhaps be understood as a tribute, albeit one that includes a critical gaze.