SOURCE: “Interior Landscapes: Narrative Perspective in Hauptmann's Bahnwärter Thiel,” in Modern Languages, Vol. 70, No. 4, December, 1989, pp. 211-19.

In the following essay, Rock evaluates the narrative technique of Bahnwärter Thiel, viewing it as “Expressionistic” and “modern” in its abruptly shifting perspectives.

One aspect of the text Bahnwärter Thiel which has always presented problems for A-level candidates is the description of nature. Most candidates have used the old Blackwell edition (¹), and they have not been entirely well served by the introduction, since the editor, S. D. Stirk, is misleading in his reading of certain aspects of the work, and this is most noticeable in his comments on some of the descriptive passages. For instance, on page xxv he notes: “Hauptmann gives a wonderful description of the setting sun. The moon rises, and for the last time the effects of light on the trees are described with the...