The transformation of the "Sanftes Gesetz" by Stifter from "Studien" to "Der Nachsommer"

In my thesis, I focused on Adalbert Stifter's concept of nature and explored how he develops it, from his early collection of short stories Studies (Studien) to his later collection Colorful Stones (Bunte Steine) and finally in his novel entitled Indian Summer (Der Nachsommer). I also worked on identifying to what degree it was influenced by "the gentle law" (das sanfte Gesetz) , formulated in the Preface (Vorrede) to Colorful Stones. In my introduction, I attempted a summary of the Biedermeier characteristics present in Stifter's work. In addition, I touched on the traits of previous or emerging literary movements that heavily influenced Stifter, whose work is generally considered as typical of the Biedermeier movement. In order to forge links between "the gentle law" and the prose chosen for analysis, I also addressed the Preface to Colorful Stones, where "the gentle law" is conceptualised. Using the examples "big" (groß), "small" (klein) and "gentle" (sanft), I established that there is already an anticipation of "the gentle law" in Studies and that the principles of "the gentle law" can also be found in his later novel, Indian Summer. The chapter in which I follow the development of Stifter's nature concept constitutes the principal part of my thesis. I distinguish between five concepts of nature, so as..