Writing with the words of others

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Hans Magnus Enzensberger is a prominent figure in post-war German literature, and this study closely analyzes many of his significant poems, particularly from his major cycles, Mausoleum (1975) and Der Untergang der Titanic (1978). A key aspect of his work is the creation of original poems from borrowed material. For instance, Der Untergang der Titanic draws heavily from Walter Lord's bestseller A Night to Remember and its film adaptation, with certain episodes requiring familiarity with the film for full comprehension. The appropriation of documentary material is also evident in his nature and science poems, many of which are presented as riddles, warranting a dedicated chapter for analysis. Mausoleum features a diverse array of figures, including scientists and inventors like Gutenberg and Darwin, alongside historical personalities selected for their eccentric, often utopian projects or megalomaniacal traits, such as Raimondo di Sangro and Ernesto Guevara. Enzensberger employs irony and humor, juxtaposing figures like Dante and Marilyn Monroe aboard the sinking Titanic. The final chapter explores the intersection of poetry and politics, analyzing his essay “Gemeinplätze, die Neueste Literatur betreffend” and a revealing interview from 1971, where he controversially rejected literature as art. This chapter also touches on Bertolt Brecht's influence, while other sections examine Enzensberger's anachronistic sensibility and th