Prof. Dr. Elke Dubbels has held the professorship for "Modern and Contemporary German Literature" at Osnabrück University since October 1. Her research focuses on literature from the 17th to 21st centuries as well as rumor research. A conversation about the importance of rumors, the difference to gossip and fake news.
Prof. Dubbels, do you study gossip scientifically?
No, I study how rumor communication is portrayed in drama texts and how this relates to the media and public history of the time. But gossip and rumors are related. One could say that gossip is the thematically limited form of a rumor and is strongly related to individual persons and relationships as well as personal details. Rumors are thematically unrestricted and therefore potentially address a wider circle of people; they can also have a diverse political dimension.
Give us an example of a rumor in literature.
A good example can be found in Kleist's "Robert Guiskard" from the early 19th century. Here, a rumor is circulating that the ruler has fallen ill with the plague. This news spreads among his troops during a siege of Constantinople and leads to unrest and a latent mood of optimism. Kleist has basically used a medieval subject to deal with the events of the French Revolution.
Did rumors play a major role during the French Revolution?
Yes, very much so. Generally speaking, times of crisis are particularly susceptible to the spread of rumors. Historians often say: "Rumors make history".
...like on November 9, 1989, when the rumor went around that the Wall was open?
For example. Kleist was influenced by the summer of 1789. At that time, at the beginning of the French Revolution, people spoke of the "Grande Peur", the great fear that prevailed among the rural population. It was triggered by rumors of an aristocratic conspiracy. The result was uprisings that fundamentally changed the whole dynamic of the revolution. Even before that, when troops had been gathered at the gates of Paris, the population was already saying: "There will be an attack on Paris!" According to historians, there was no firm plan at the time. But the rumors triggered a backlash - and the so-called storming of the Bastille ensued.
The political significance of rumors can also be seen in current discussions. Keyword: fake news.
This is true, but there is a big difference between rumors and fake news: the latter is deliberately circulated false information that is presented as news, while rumors are uncertain information. However, fake news can generate rumors and vice versa. They are therefore linked.
Is there a certain group of people who spread rumors in literature?
Often it is the "schemer" - someone who acts indirectly, from the shadows and tries to manipulate others. The schemer uses rumors to deflect responsibility by speaking anonymously: "They say that..."
Can you name a famous schemer?
Lessing's "Emilia Galotti" is a good example. The prince's courtier, Marinelli, actively spreads a fabricated rumor about Emilia's involvement in a crime in order to justify her imprisonment and pursue his desires. This is a clear example of how a rumor is used to manipulate a situation.
In your research on rumors, you focus on texts from the 17th to 19th centuries. Can we nevertheless make the connection to the present day?
Of course. A very contemporary play in which rumors play a central role is "Lärm. Blind seeing. The blind see!" by Elfriede Jelinek. It is about the pandemic and the many false reports, rumors and conspiracy theories that were spread during the first lockdown. The coronavirus period was practically a heyday for rumors. Modern media may have fueled the spread of rumors in recent years. But if you take a look at the history of rumors, you quickly realize that certain mechanisms have remained surprisingly stable.
Personal details: After working in Bonn, Berlin and Würzburg, Elke Dubbels has held the professorship for "Modern and Contemporary German Literature" at Osnabrück University since October 1, 2025. Her habilitation thesis is entitled "Politics of Rumor. Dramas from Gryphius to Kleist in the context of media and public history".
About the series: In the interview series "UOS asks questions", experts from Osnabrück University talk to the press office about current, everyday and much-discussed topics. From politics to education, from art to AI - UOS asks questions.
Further information for the media:
Prof. Dr. Elke Dubbels
Institute of German Studies
E-mail: elke.dubbels@uni-osnabrueck.de
