First Advisor

H. Frederick Peters

Term of Graduation

Summer 1966

Date of Publication

8-1966

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (M.A.) in German

Department

Foreign Languages

Language

German

Subjects

Franz Michael Felder (1839-1869) -- Criticism and interpretation

DOI

10.15760/etd.446

Physical Description

1 online resource (2, v, 81 pages)

Abstract

This thesis is the first known study to analyze the writings of the Austrian, Franz Michael Felder, as an educative device, which the author himself utilized to enlighten and instruct his country folk in Bregenzerwald, Vorarlberg.

An attempt is made to uncover the basic message inherent in all of Felder's works: close family relationship, high moral standards and diligence are important to him; he fights petty prejudice, meaningless tradition and hypocrisy. The many native customs peculiar to the region are, of course, immanent in his literary production and, what is particularly significant, he stages a continuous battle against the social and political pressures of the time. He sees the need for community action in pooling meager resources to combat influential outside monopolies which stifle the economy of his remote alpine region.

Franz Michael Felder's message is somber. It lacks the folksy homespun qualities observed in similar writers, such as Rosegger, Gotthelf, Hansjakob, Huggenberger, Löns, Schönherr and Ludwig Thoma. Felder educates his people to a better understanding of themselves and a greater tolerance of others. He seeks equality of rights and equal justice for everyone. With a seriously discerning attitude he probes local problems confronting his people; these he portrays in true to life situations, attempting to search the causes. While Felder does not advocate to change customs and established ways of life, he wants to better his people's situation for their own welfare and self-improvement.

Felder's literary importance is manifold: he writes from true experience, which he incorporates into beneficial teaching for his people; Austria in its entirety and much of Europe is quite akin to the style of rural living described by Felder for the Vorarlberg. Thus he captures a true picture of nineteen-century village life with its economic and social implications.

This study treats of Felder's literary achievements only. It casually mentions his other, more visible accomplishments, such as the foundation of a dairy association, an agricultural produce co-op, a cattle insurance company, a weaving co-op. He established a library and a reading club. This he did in a relatively brief span of time for he died at the age of twenty-nine.

Not only did Felder make material life easier for his countrymen, he freed them spiritually as well. The research of this thesis concludes that Felder, though relatively unknown in literature is possibly the most influential and lasting of all Vorarlberg writers. His description does not have the pastoral serenity usually peculiar to village tales; there is little to see of the pretty mountain landscapes, or the cool green meadows with rustling brooks and cowbells ringing. Felder does not indulge the reader - instead he describes reality, actual people and their problems - the reader gets what he needs. This, then, is the universality of Felder's work: in essence, he reflects truth.

Rights

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Comments

A thesis presented to the Department of Foreign Languages and the Graduate Council of Portland State College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in German.

If you are the rightful copyright holder of this dissertation or thesis and wish to have it removed from the Open Access Collection, please submit a request to pdxscholar@pdx.edu and include clear identification of the work, preferably with URL.

Persistent Identifier

https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/8246

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