FR 1090 ASPECTS OF MODERN GERMAN LITERATURE IN TRANSLATION
Heinrich Böll, The Lost Honour of Katharina Blum Seminar worksheet Week 9
Group A
The Narrator – Why do you think the narrator refers so much to his ‘sources’? What is the effect of this prominent narrative presence (often at the beginning of chapters / sections)? What do you think the narrator’s intention is in assembling and presenting this story (and what might be Böll’s intention in having him present it)?
How does the narrator then contribute to the overall effect of Böll’s story – what purpose does he serve?
Comment on the narrator’s response to the issue of phone tapping and surveillance (Section 41), to the journalist Tötges’ visit to KB’s mother (42), to Blorna and Trude’s ‘domestic’ (40, esp p.37) – and overall on his attitude to establishment figures. Contrast this with his attitude to Katharina (eg 57).
Why does the narrator delay so long in telling the story of what happened (58), and what is the effect for the reader?
Group B
The Press – ‘The News behaved somewhat oddly…’ (Section 6). Look at how the coverage of the story is conducted (on breaking the story 22, on Katharina’s past life 23) – what does this tell us about the role of the press in this society? Discuss the ‘public interest’ argument raised in 27.
Journalists – Look at how the individual reporters are presented – Schönner (4) and Tötges himself, especially regarding his visit ot Katharina’s mother (42) and in handling her death (47).
Group C
The State – Consider the powers of the police and the state (surveillance etc); how are they portrayed by the Narrator? and how by Böll? (Section 38)
Society – What kind of society is depicted in this story? Comment on the prevailing attitude to terrorism, crime (Götten’s crimes 13, 54) and communism (Trude the Red, accusations of her father’s association 23) in particular (also 48, 50).
What does Carnival time reflect of this society? (5)
People – What do we know about the ‘people’ represented by the readership of the News (34)? What do the characters who are closer to Katharina contribute to this portrait of society, and of Katharina herself? (Blornas, 38, Else Woltersheim 28 on KB, 48 on society)
Group D
Katharina Blum – What constitutes Katharina’s ‘honour’? What do we infer from KB’s account of herself (Section 15) and from the evidence considered at the police hearing (24)?
How would you explain the following? a) her behaviour prior to her affair with Götten, b) the sudden affair itself (29 &30 others’ version, 44 her version) and c) her subsequent behaviour (36, 37) and response to treatment by the press (27) and police (15, 18), then to her imprisonment (53)
Consider the scene where she smashes the items in her flat (35) – where does this violence stem from (the story’s title)? How far is her violent action in killing the journalist Tötges explained or justified in this story?