Epic Poems of the ‘long’ 17th Century (1570–1740) in the German Area. Historical Inventory and Bibliographical Database

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The proposed project focusses on the generic tradition of epic poems (carmina heroica) of the ‘long’ 17th century (1570–1740) in the German territories. If one takes its immense significance for early modern German literary history into account, the genre of carmina heroica, which in the seventeenth century understanding of the genre includes heroic and didactic poems as well as other epic traditions, has not at all been appropriately explored. The project aims at filling this gap in the existing research by constructing a historical inventory and an interactive bibliographical database, as well as by supplementary research. By exploring the literary history of the genre of carmina heroica, which has been largely neglected until now, the project will contribute to a revision of the general history of early modern literary genres. First of all, it aims at demonstrating that the history of narrative in the 17th century did not teleologically lead to the modern novel. Furthermore, the project will contribute to an urgently needed historicization of existing research on the relationship between literature and knowledge. Finally, it makes possible the establishment of new perspectives on the history of fiction.