Kinder auf der Flucht – literaturdidaktisches Potenzial von Michael Köhlmeiers Roman Das Mädchen mit dem Fingerhut
Children on the Run: The Didactic Potential of Michael Köhlmeier’s Novel Girl with Thimble

Summary/Abstract: This article examines the relevance of Michael Köhlmeier’s novel Das Mädchen mit dem Fingerhut (2016; Girl with Thimble) to literary didactics. The novel focuses on issues such as escape, alienation, linguistic deprivation, and the integration of children and young people into new environments. Narrative representations within German literature of migration and of the issue of escape from the experience of alienation have significant didactic and educational potential. Literature that addresses the theme of escape creates an opportunity for students not only to develop skills in literary analysis, but also to acquire intercultural competence and to become more sensitive to the complex issues of the contemporary world. Addressing social aspects of escape, the author of this article analyses Köhlmeier’s novel from the perspectives of literary studies and literary didactics. Two theoretical models have been used as prisms through which to justify the usefulness of this novel in a literary studies classroom: Byram`s model for describing intercultural competencies and Spinner’s model of intercultural competence.

• Details
• Contents