Paul Celans 'Zähle die Mandeln', a critical commentary

Essay aus dem Jahr 2001 im Fachbereich Germanistik - Komparatistik, Vergleichende Literaturwissenschaft, Note: 75 (entspricht eins), University of Canterbury (School of European Culture and Languages), Veranstaltung: Seminar, Sprache: Deutsch, Abstract: The poem 'Zähle die Mandeln' ('Count the almonds') comes last in Paul Celan's first official publication Mohn und Gedächtnis. Published in 1952 the collection is divided into four parts "Der Sand aus den Urnen", the single poem 'Todesfuge' ('Death Fugue'), "Gegenlicht" and "Halme der Nacht". It is my favourite collection of poems by one of my favourite authors. My choice of poem is not necessarily a conscious decision against all other 55 in this collection, although I did indeed decide against the 'Death Fugue' as this - Celan's most famous poem - has already been discussed so many times over, that I felt there was not much room for my own ideas left. Otherwise, my choice was non-academic. I have selected 'Zähle die Mandeln' simply because I was fascinated by its language and images.