Death in Venice

The City of Venice is the setting of the majority of the novella’s chapters, and a major motif representing Aschenbach’s descent into excess sensuality. Examine the links between the unique history and culture of Venice and the city’s role in communicating and illuminating the themes of this novella.

How do descriptions of Tadzio’s physical appearance contribute to Mann’s exploration of the theme of The Idolization of Beauty?

How are the political tensions of early 20th-century Europe reflected in Death in Venice? Discuss the significance of the novella’s international setting and Mann’s presentation of different nationalities within this sociohistorical context.

Use Mann’s presentation of Aschenbach’s desires for Tadzio, and the novella’s frequent allusions to the “pederasty” relationships of Ancient Greece to discuss how social attitudes toward relationships between men and the wider LGBTQ+ community have changed throughout European history. How might recent changes affect or influence a modern audience’s attitudes toward the topic as presented in Death In Venice?

Mann makes frequent references and allusions to Ancient Greek and Roman mythology throughout Death in Venice. How do these Classical references contribute to the impact and effectiveness of the novella’s themes and messages?

Mann wrote during the early 20th century when Western European nations had colonized much of the world, and “exoticism” (the romanticization and fetishization of an “othered” foreignness) was a common element of Western art and literature. What is the role of exoticism in Death in Venice, and how does it relate particularly to the novella’s plague motif and presentation of sensuality?

Mann frequently uses vivid, detailed, and highly sensory descriptions to paint evocative and comprehensive pictures of the novella’s settings. Analyze the impact of such descriptive language in the creation of mood and atmosphere.

Mann’s presentation of the theme of The Conflict Between Rationality and Sensuality is influenced by Freud’s psychoanalytical theories on repression and the unconscious, Nietzsche’s writings on art, and Plato’s dialogues on passion and the human soul. Compare and contrast this theme as presented in Death in Venice with the views, theories, and messages on the topic as expressed by these influential thinkers.