PETER HARTLINGS HOELDERLIN-ROMAN. (GERMAN TEXT)

Peter Hartling's novel Holderlin was published in 1976, at a time when Holderlin's political convictions were the subject of heated discussions. The controversy had begun with the appearance of Pierre Bertaux' monograph Holderlin und die Franzosische Revolution (1969) and was further kindled by Peter Weiss' stage play Holderlin (1974) which is based on the findings of Professor Bertaux' study. Quite naturally, first reviews of Hartling's Holderlin reflected the dispute. Critics remarked on the thoroughness of Hartling's research, adding that his book was a valuable contribution to the current debates, but the aesthetic dimension of the novel was almost totally neglected. There were questions regarding the genre of Hartling's work. The account of Holderlin's life conforms to the idea of a biography, as for instance, Goethe defined it in his preface to Truth and Poetry: "to exhibit the man in relation to the circumstances of his time and to show how far everything has opposed or favored his progress, what kind of a view of the world and of mankind he has formed from them, and how he, if an artist, poet, or writer, may outwardly reflect them." But the text also shows the characteristics of the modern novel. Hartling employed the techniques of the novel to show the complexity of the life presented.;One chapter is devoted to a discussion of the narrator. Special emphasis is placed on his role as mirror, reflecting and repeating many aspects of Holderlin's biography. The "Annaherung", the narrator's movement toward the object of his narration is dealt with; special mention is made of its significance in accentuating important phases in Holderlin's life and in distinguishing between central and peripheral poetry.;Hartling presents Holderlin as a radical republican who sympathizes with Sinclair and a group of German Jacobins plotting to overthrow the duchy of Wurttemberg, but who instinctively shrinks back from all political action. The rift in Holderlin's nature, most conspicuously shown in his friendship with Sinclair, reveals itself in all of his experiences. It is evident in his relationship with his mother and the many role and identity conflicts following his preparation for the ministry. My chapter on the central character shows that the novel is probing for an answer to the rift. The narrator is always trying to fuse the disparate elements, drafting ideal situations and projecting personalities who will heal the discord and lead to harmony.;As Hartling's reference to Kierkegaard's reflections on repetition suggests--"Repetition and recollection are the same movement, only in opposite directions; for what is recollected has been, is repeated backwards, whereas repetition properly so called is recollected forwards." (pg. 162 in Holderlin)--time and memory are brought into focus in Holderlin. My dissertation calls attention to the significance of time and history in the development of the central character; I have included an analysis of the time structure and a discussion of techniques used to bring out modern parallels of the events recounted. In my chapter on memory, I have traced this motif on all levels of the novel. I have pointed out the role of memory in the creative process and showed how memories influence the lives of the characters.;In view of this, my dissertation concentrates mainly on the structure of Hartling's work. I have included a detailed description of the narrative method, focusing on the integration of objective and subjective elements to show the blend of novel and biography. I called attention to narrative devices used to increase the reader's sense of involvement and examined the role of Holderlin's private correspondence in the text. My study does not provide detailed information on how accurately the biographical material has been presented. I merely pointed out some "errors" to indicate their function as signals to the reader.