This textbook has made history in the field of study! It was the first introduction that presented the fundamentals of literary studies in a style that is both entertaining and scientifically precise. The range of topics covers everything from ancient rhetoric and poetics to foundational questions of contemporary literary studies, exemplary text analyses, and the relationship between literature and new media. Numerous illustrations, diagrams, marginal notes, and an accompanying online presence encourage independent reading, thinking, and research. It remains one of the best introductions to the study of German literature. The book is recommended by many professors and is very helpful in making decisions before starting studies.