The Apostrophic Moment in 19th and 20th Century German Lyric Poetry

This series of provocative essays examines the learning process of the Ich in 19th and 20th century German lyric poetry. The apostrophic moment, which develops from a textual instant of emotional, intellectual, or psychological reciprocity between the Ich and a Du, initiates a meaningful and vital learning process in the poem. Poets discussed include Clemens Brentano, Joseph von Eichendorff, Annette von Droste-Huelshoff, Conrad Ferdinand Meyer, Stefan George, Rainer Maria Rilke, Rudolf Borchardt, and Gottfried Benn.