Civil Service Main Examination Syllabus
German Language - Optional
Paper-I
Answers must be written in German
Section-A
1. Structure of Language :
Candidates are expected to have a thorough knowledge of
German grammar with reference to specific aspects such as word order, syntactic
structures and semantics.
2. Essay in German :
Candidates are expected to demonstrate command over
techniques of written expression in German by writing an essay on a contemporary
topic of a general nature.
Section-B
1. Translation of a text of a general nature from English
into German.
2.Socio-political and cultural history of Germany from the
18th century onwards with special reference to :
a. Impact of Enlightenment on German society and culture
b. The impact of Prussian culture on Germany.
c. Cultural debates in the Weimar Republic.
d. The concept of culture under National Socialism in
Germany.
e. The development of two German literatures and cultures
after 1945.
f. Reunification of Germany and the problems of cultural
pluralism.
g. The role and relevance of German language and literature
in the European Union.
Paper-II
Answers must be written in German.
Section-A
1. Development of German literature from the 19th century
to the present.
Candidates should know the main trends, representative
authors and their important works. The emphasis is not on collecting information
on works and authors, but the candidate is expected to identify features of a
literary epoch on the basis of representative texts.
2. The Study of literary genres.
Candidates must be aware of the characteristic features of
the different genres like Roman, Novelle, Drama, Ballade, Elegie, Marchen,
Fabein, Kurzgeschichte.
Section-B
1. Perceptions of Literary Interpretation.
Candidates should be aware of various approaches to a
critical understanding of literature.
2. Sutdy of Selected Texts.
a. Goethe : Die Leiden des jungen Werther.
b. Schiller : Maria Stuart.
c. Eichendorff. Gedichte.
d. Gottfried Keller : Kleider machen Leute.
e. Thomas Mann : Die vertauschten Kopfe.
f. Franz Kafka : Vor Dem Gesetz.
g. Friedrich Durrenmatt : Die Physiker.
h. Max Frisch : Andorra.
i. Heinrich Boll : Die verlorence Ehre der Katharina
Blum.
j. Ingeborg Bachmann : Alles (aus dem Erzahlband
: Das dreBigste Jahr)
k. Rose Auslander : Gedichte.
l. Christa Wolf : Der geteilte Himmel.
m. Gunter Grass : Zunge zeigen.