THE POETRY OF SCIENCE AND THE SCIENCE OF POETRY: GERMAN POETRY IN THE LABORATORY OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY

This essay addresses the interest in science among modern German poets. Although, in the twentieth century at least, literature and science have often been considered quite separate cultures, it could be argued that they share similarities of mode and preoccupation, especially in the use of metaphor. Whether they are, however, ‘chance acquaintances’ or share more profound ‘affinities’ is examined with special reference to two distinguished young writers: Durs Grünbein and Raoul Schrott. Both, however different their tone and diction, do not simply raid the exotic and seductive vocabularies of science as do many contemporaries. Instead they employ a scientific view as a way of apprehending the world. Finally, both attend to that which is beyond the reach of scientific thinking and try to give it voice.