معرفی
Eric J Klaus is Professor of German Area Studies and Chair of the German Area Studies program at Hobart and William Smith Colleges (HWS), where he has been a faculty member since 2001. He holds a Ph.D. in German Studies from Brown University, an M.A. in Germanic Studies from the University of Maryland College Park, and a B.A. in German with a minor in History from Dickinson College. His academic home is within the Faculty of Humanities, focusing on German literature and intellectual history.
- Ph.D., German Studies, Brown University
- M.A., Germanic Studies, University of Maryland College Park
- B.A., German (minor in History), Dickinson College
His research and teaching focus on modern German literature and intellectual history, with particular emphasis on modernism, the Bildungsroman, the uncanny, esotericism, and vanitas and dance of death motifs. He explores the evolution of selfhood, allegory, and humanism in literary texts, especially in Goethe and Gorky. His dissertation, Engineering Souls: Humanism, Allegory, and Specularity in Goethe's Wilhelm Meisters Lehrjahre and Gorky's Mother, reflects this deep engagement with identity and narrative form.
The available publication information indicates ongoing scholarly work on Gustav Meyrink and forthcoming articles on the uncanny and the Bildungsroman, suggesting a continued contribution to the understanding of psychological and metaphysical dimensions in modern German literature. These works fall within broader disciplines of literature, philosophy, and cultural studies, with subfields including symbolic interpretation, narrative theory, and intellectual history.
Professional Affiliations:
- Modern Language Association (MLA)
- American Association of Teachers of German (AATG)
- ACTFL
- MACLA
- Europäischer Totentanz-Vereinigung
Klaus integrates his research into the classroom, teaching courses such as Beginning through Intermediate German, Madness and Mayhem in Modernity, and Haunting Memories – revealing the uncanny. He values the teacher-scholar model, emphasizing student engagement in exploring complex literary and philosophical themes. There is no indication of grant funding in the provided text, but his pedagogical philosophy highlights mentorship and collaborative inquiry. He has taught previously at Brown University, the University of Rhode Island, and the University of Maryland College Park.
Klaus leads the German Area Studies program as its Chair, shaping curriculum and academic direction. While no formal lab or research team is mentioned, his leadership role and active scholarship suggest a guiding presence in the department’s intellectual life.
