Ludvig Holberg is often celebrated as the godfather of Danish and Norwegian literature. He is best known today for his comedies, written primarily in the 1720s – in the spirit of Molière and/or the commedia-dell'arte-tradition. His oeuvre, however, is much more diverse, including fantasy novels and a large number of historical writings. Indeed, Holberg's main occupation was that of a professor at the University of Copenhagen.
Clemens Räthel will take a look at selected comedies by Holberg and explore the questions of what standards he applies to his characters and how (un)expectedly the plot proceeds. For whom do the gates of happiness open in the end? What does a comic peripety look like, if there is one?
Clemens Räthel has held the Chair of Modern Scandinavian Literature since April 2022. He studied Scandinavian Studies, Theatre Studies and Political Science in Berlin and Stockholm, followed by a PhD at the Humboldt University in Berlin and a postdoc at the Northern Europe Institute. Most recently he was Associate Professor at the University of Bergen (Norway). In addition to his academic career, Clemens Räthel has worked at the Berliner Ensemble, Burgtheater Wien, the Salzburg Festival and the Bregenz Festival.