Influence of Generational Factor in “Group 47” Activity

Abstract

A literary process in Germany after the World War II was reviewed. In particular, a generational worldview change in the writers association “Group47”was traced. Considering the group's activity as an example a writers’ “birth” in German post-war society was demonstrated when the young people without professional education and literary experience (this was the 1945th year generation or the generation of “private soldiers”) managed to enter on the world scene within relatively short time. The “brand new” writers repudiated any abstractions, opposed the idealization of the past, present or future, focused on a comprehension and reflection of a real life “here and now” experiences. An attention to the lack of an unanimous opinion of literary critics regarding the functioning of the “Group47”was drawn. In particular, examples of critical statements about the association activities were given. Arising from such very different and violent reactions a rethinking of the World War II tragedies and its consequences took place. It has been shown as during few decades of the hot debates between different generations of writers the new sparks were flashed, which ignited entirely different centers, where according to the researchers in the 70's a new pop culture emerged, whose representatives were entirely new faces and unknown names.

Keywords

• Group 47
• P. Handke
• G. Grass
• H. Böll
• P. Celan
• writers association
• postwar German literature
• literature of witnesses
• 1945th year generation
• 1968th year generation