“Geduldig neue Blätter treib ich”: Hermann Hesses Poet(h)ik des Pflanzlichen
Résumé
in Urte Stobbe, Anke Kramer, Berbeli Wanning (Hg.), Literaturen und Kulturen des Vegetabilen. Plant Studies – Kulturwissenschaftliche Pflanzenforschung, Berlin et al., Peter Lang, « Studien zu Literatur, Kultur und Umwelt », 2022, p. 341-355. In this article, the significance of flowers and plants in Hesse's literary texts - especially in prose texts (Iris, Unterm Rad, Demian, Narziß und Goldmund, Das Glasperlenspiel) and poems (Gestutzte Eiche, Karfreitag) - is pointed out from the perspective of plant studies. It is shown that plants are constitutive for Hesse's writing, both in terms of content and form. First, Hesse's practical, botanical and "ecological" knowledge will be discussed. Then I explain Hesse's poetological knowledge of plants, conveyed among other things by Goethe, as well as their symbolic meaning. Finally, the ethical and spiritual message of plants is examined. Following this, Hesse may be said to be a pioneer in the development of a « plant poethics ». Keywords: Plant studies, plant poetics, nature, art, biophilia, flowers, garden