Reclam's study book on German Studies provides specialized knowledge for the foundational study of Germanistics and beyond: clearly structured, understandably formulated, and practically focused. Everything one needs to know for a scholarly engagement with German literature is concentrated and memorably explained here: the construction of literary texts through poetics, rhetoric, and stylistics, the system of genres, methods and theories of literary studies, as well as fundamental concepts of editorial science. Written by three experts in university teaching and tested in practice, this foundational book is precisely tailored to current study realities. The proven green volume in the Universal Library is presented here as a completely revised and updated edition in a large study book format, complete with tables, note boxes, and valuable literature recommendations.