Topics in Germanic Literatures: The Poem as Spell Jar: Techniques of Poetic Seduction

When Theocritus composed Simaetha’s moonlit incantation—a concoction brewed from enchanted spells to compel an unfaithful lover to repent—the literary topos of the “poet-witch” was born. For two millennia, audiences have been seduced – if not bewitched – by the metrical alliance of poetry and magic. This course explores how lyrical seduction, shaped by sound, rhythm, and repetition, continues to exert its power in contemporary verse. Through close readings of poetry and poetic prose, we will trace the enduring traces of magical speech across literary traditions. Taught in English and German.