Magnetized Men: Constructing Masculinity through Somnambulism in the Works of German Romanticism

Magnetized Men: Constructing Masculinity through Somnambulism in the Works of German Romanticism

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Luly, Sara Rosemary
Language:English
Published: The Ohio State University / OhioLINK 2011
Subjects:
Germanic Literature
Romanticism
somnambulism
animal magnetism
gender studies
Fouque
Immermann
Kleist
Hoffmann
Online Access:http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1306343102
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spelling ndltd-OhioLink-oai-etd.ohiolink.edu-osu13063431022021-08-03T06:02:41Z Magnetized Men: Constructing Masculinity through Somnambulism in the Works of German Romanticism Luly, Sara Rosemary Germanic Literature Romanticism somnambulism animal magnetism gender studies Fouque Immermann Kleist Hoffmann A frequently occurring trope in Romantic literature, somnambulism, or sleep walking, was understood as a condition of women. Literary depictions of male somnambulism have generally been interpreted in one of two ways: either as indicative of a feminized male subject or as a universal experience that can be read as a metaphor for political and social issues. I investigate the potential of literary male somnambulist to temporarily de-stabilize contemporary gender polity. I argue that this ultimately constructs minority masculinities against which the hegemonic ideal is formed. Using the critical approach of gender studies, informed by the works of Robert Connell and Pierre Bourdieu, I examine literary works by Heinrich von Kleist, Caroline de la Motte Fouqué, E.T.A. Hoffmann and Karl Leberecht Immermann within the context of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century medical theories and eighteenth century conceptions of gender. I show that in these texts the motif of male somnambulism is used to examine factors that shape male/male interaction including homosocial bonding, homoeroticism and military culture. Through a study of male somnambulism my dissertation contributes to current discussions of eighteenth-and nineteenth-century cultural and gender studies. 2011-07-22 English text The Ohio State University / OhioLINK http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1306343102 http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1306343102 unrestricted This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws.
collection NDLTD
language English
sources NDLTD
topic Germanic Literature
Romanticism
somnambulism
animal magnetism
gender studies
Fouque
Immermann
Kleist
Hoffmann
spellingShingle Germanic Literature
Romanticism
somnambulism
animal magnetism
gender studies
Fouque
Immermann
Kleist
Hoffmann
Luly, Sara Rosemary
Magnetized Men: Constructing Masculinity through Somnambulism in the Works of German Romanticism
author Luly, Sara Rosemary
author_facet Luly, Sara Rosemary
author_sort Luly, Sara Rosemary
title Magnetized Men: Constructing Masculinity through Somnambulism in the Works of German Romanticism
title_short Magnetized Men: Constructing Masculinity through Somnambulism in the Works of German Romanticism
title_full Magnetized Men: Constructing Masculinity through Somnambulism in the Works of German Romanticism
title_fullStr Magnetized Men: Constructing Masculinity through Somnambulism in the Works of German Romanticism
title_full_unstemmed Magnetized Men: Constructing Masculinity through Somnambulism in the Works of German Romanticism
title_sort magnetized men: constructing masculinity through somnambulism in the works of german romanticism
publisher The Ohio State University / OhioLINK
publishDate 2011
url http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1306343102
work_keys_str_mv AT lulysararosemary magnetizedmenconstructingmasculinitythroughsomnambulismintheworksofgermanromanticism
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