Die 'Energie des Gegenstandlichen'. Zur Logik des Nebeneinanders als Gestaltungsprinzip (mit einem Ausblick auf Judith Schalanskys "Verzeichnis einiger Verluste")

As well known, Erich Auerbach’s essay "Philologie der Weltliteratur" has proved of seminal importance to the development of flexible methods of textual analysis. To sustain his arguments, Auerbach deployed a set of metaphors referring to the multifarious field of energy. This article focuses on one single expression introduced by Auerbach, i.e. ‘Energie des Gegenständlichen’ (energy of objectivity). It sets out to show how Auerbach’s imagery resonates with traditions of thought derived from the Age of Goethe. Specific forms of energy featured prominently especially when discussing techniques of juxtaposition from antiquity to contemporary texts. A quick foray into literary anthropology will help to clarify to what extent the ‘energy of objectivity’ may still inform the structure of remarkable pieces of prose in which the logic of juxtaposition comes to the fore. Judith Schalansky’s "Verzeichnis einiger Verluste" epitomizes this formal trend and will serve as a case in point.