Abstract

Abiding by the Soviet model, the concept of socialist realism in the GDR is identified by five chracteristics: 1) Objective Reflection of Reality, 2) Partiality, 3) National Orientation, 4) The Typical and 5) The Positive Hero. By adhering to these criteria, works of socialist realism promote the precepts of socialism as a «Wegweiser» in the transition from capitalism to communism. Moskauer Novelle, Christa Wolf's first work, may be characterized as a model of socialist realism in that it faithfully abides by all five prerequisites of that literary phenomenon. However, marked deviation from the expected norm of socialist realism literature is already evident in Der geteilte Himmel, the second novel by Wolf, in that a search for truth replaced earlier political subservience. Personal isolation and alienation presented in a stream-of-consciousness format in Nachdenken über Christa T. and Kein Ort. Nirgends mark the death of this literary phenomenon.