Canada has only recently become a topic of literary interest in modern grammar schools in Hessen. It was thus logical that schools, teachers and students were confronted with a fairly unknown topic that belongs to what is referred too as English-speaking literature. Canadian literature is, strictly speaking, part of what is commonly considered to be ‘Literature of the Colonies‘, a term that sums up literature from Africa, Asia, Australia, Canada and New Zealand.
Canada in this respect still holds a key position for European readers simply because of its historic links to England and France and its deep roots in native elements, all of which seem to have enriched its historical, cultural and literary variety. All three influences have contributed to the key term of present Canadian literature which seems to focus on the concept of survival and its manifold presentations in past and present day Canadian writing.
It is thus not astonishing to spot this notion of survival in all types of writing, and detective stories, in general, also do not seem to be an exception. It is therefore natural for the reader to trace and find this notion in Louise Penny’s novels, too.
Louise Penny herself is considered to be one, if not the most outstanding contemporary Canadian representative of this type of writing, and it was simply a question of time when she came into the focus of public attention. Books like Still Life (2005), Dead Cold (2006), The Cruellest Month (2007), The Murder Stone (2008), The Brutal Telling (2009), Bury Your Dead (2010), A Trick of the Light (2011) soon gained her the reputation of a fine writer.
Most of her novels, however, include another aspect central for modern language learning in the socalled Oberstufe.
The talk here is about what is generally called ‘Intercultural Teaching and Learning‘ because the critical reader working here gains a lot of historical, cultural and social insight into Canada and the Canadian soul. It is at this crossroad where Penny steps in. With the elegance of a Shakespearian pen of the 21st century she presents various characters and thus teachers and students alike can learn a lot about the different dimensions – individual and collective – of the Canadian psyche. This results in knowledge, feeling and respect for Canada and Canadian mentality which are conveyed in a convincing and authentic way.
Table of Contents
1. Preface
2. Louise Penny’s E-mail
3. Matthias Dickert: Intercultural Learning
4. Matthias Dickert: The author
5. Matthias Dickert: Detective Stories
6. Students‘ topics (listed up alphabetically)
6.1 Jan Frederik Beyer: Québec - Confident Francophone Nation within Canada between Federal Partnership and Sovereignity
6.2 Antonia Bunde: Louise Penny Bury Your Dead
6.3 Lars Fiedler : France in America – the culturally exceptional position of Quebeck
6.4 Sarah Höhn : Les Têtes à Papineau
6.5 Sarah G. Holzmann: Independence of- and different cultural identities in Canada
6.6 Jan Kaufeld: French-Canadian identity in Québec
6.7 Julius Kinzig: Frenchmen in Canada
6.8 N. N: To die in French
6.9 Vanessa Massling: Je me souviens - History of the Québec-problem
6.10 Matthias Muth: New France – More than 200 years of French
6.11 Marcel Sebbin: The Forgotten Literature: The Angloquebeccer Literature
6.12 Nicole Siwiak: The matter with the two languages
6.13 Lena Wagner: French Canadians
6.14 Luca Werner: France in the United States of America
6.15 Simone Wirth: Québec - Between identity and plurality
6.16 Marco Zellmann: The Franco-Canadian time bomb
7. Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This book explores the intersection of contemporary Canadian literature and intercultural learning, using Louise Penny's novel "Bury Your Dead" (2010) as a focal point to analyze the complex cultural, linguistic, and historical dynamics of Quebec and Canadian identity.
- The historical and social background of the English-French divide in Canada.
- The concept of intercultural learning within the German educational system.
- Literary analysis of Louise Penny's work as a lens for the "Canadian soul."
- The role of detective fiction in exploring themes of memory, survival, and cultural conflict.
- The struggle for identity within Francophone minorities and the broader Canadian mosaic.
Excerpt from the Book
3. Intercultural Learning
The background of Louise Penny's novel Bury Your Dead (2010) can not be taken as a means to give a precise description of the developments and genesis of the concept of intercultural learning.
It yet has to be pointed out right away that this term is used on a wide ranged scale and it must, therefore, be defined in an exact way whenever and wherever it is used. It is undoubted, however, that intercultural learning in times of globalization and migration has obtained a key position in human sciences and modern forms of teaching.
Language learning, in general, is not only restricted to communication with other persons, it is also connected to what can be called the other part of this other person. A key element of this other part is the knowledge of a foreign culture, even if this is only done in parts.
Literary critics thus have to look at the development of language learning which in the ideally goes from an objective to a more process-orientated learning. The (again ideal) result from this is a partially and temporarily taking-over of a protagonist’s perspective. It is, therefore, exactly this (I would call it) playing with perspectives which helps to understand intercultural learning and its aims in general.
Summary of Chapters
Preface: Discusses the emergence of Canada as a topic of interest in modern German grammar schools and introduces the concept of "survival" in Canadian literature.
Louise Penny’s E-mail: Presents a correspondence between the editor and Louise Penny, providing context on the novel's creation and significance.
Matthias Dickert: Intercultural Learning: Defines the educational framework of intercultural learning and its application in modern language teaching.
Matthias Dickert: The author: Provides a biographical overview of Louise Penny and her rise as a prominent Canadian writer.
Matthias Dickert: Detective Stories: Examines the tradition of the detective novel and its evolution within the context of Canadian literature.
Students‘ topics (listed up alphabetically): A collection of student essays exploring specific historical, linguistic, and sociological facets of Quebec and Canadian culture related to the novel.
Conclusion: Synthesizes the findings of the seminar project, emphasizing the value of literature in gaining deep insights into the Canadian psyche.
Keywords
Intercultural Learning, Canadian Literature, Louise Penny, Bury Your Dead, Quebec, Identity, Francophone, Anglophone, Detective Fiction, Colonialism, Survival, Bilingualism, Culture, History, Education.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this work primarily about?
The work explores the connection between contemporary Canadian literature—specifically Louise Penny’s novel "Bury Your Dead"—and the pedagogical concept of intercultural learning in German schools.
What are the central thematic fields?
Central themes include the cultural and linguistic tension between English- and French-speaking Canada, the search for national and individual identity, and the historical legacy of French colonialism in North America.
What is the primary objective of this publication?
The objective is to demonstrate how contemporary novels can serve as powerful tools for students to gain historical, social, and cultural insights into the "Canadian soul" and enhance their intercultural competence.
Which scientific method is employed?
The work utilizes a combination of literary analysis and the application of "Landeskunde" (area studies) and "Interkulturelle Kompetenz" (intercultural competence) to analyze narrative characters and settings.
What is covered in the main body?
The main body comprises a theoretical introduction to intercultural learning and detective fiction, followed by specific student research papers analyzing the historical and social background of Quebec, separatism, language laws, and identity.
How can this work be characterized through keywords?
Key terms include Intercultural Learning, Canadian Literature, Quebec, Bilingualism, and the socio-political conflict between Francophone and Anglophone identities.
How does the novel "Bury Your Dead" address the "Canadian soul"?
The novel uses the investigation of a crime in Quebec to mirror the deeper, ongoing conflict between English and French identities, illustrating themes of historical memory and the difficulty of reconciliation.
What role does Samuel de Champlain play in the student essays?
Champlain serves as a central historical reference point; the search for his burial site in the novel acts as a metaphor for the Quebeckers' search for their own completed identity and historical origins.
How does the work explain the concept of the "two solitudes" in Quebec?
It highlights the segregation and mutual distrust between the English and French communities, noting how physical and symbolic spaces—like the Literary and Historical Society library—represent these separated realities.
- Quote paper
- Matthias Dickert et al. (Author), 2013, Contemporary Canadian Literature and Intercultural Learning. Analyzing Louise Penny's novel "Bury Your Dead", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/264276
