Schilderungen

Schilderungen is a German noun and the plural of Schilderung. It denotes descriptions or depictions of events, scenes, people, or environments, and can refer to written passages, oral narrations, or visual representations. The term often conveys a sense of detail, vividness, or crafted portrayal rather than bare facts.

The word derives from schildern, to describe or depict, with the nominalizing suffix -ung. Its use in German literature and criticism reflects a focus on how something is presented to the reader or viewer, not only what is presented.

In literary contexts, Schilderungen are descriptive passages that render perception, setting, or character. A narrative may include innere Schilderungen (internal depictions of thoughts or feelings) as well as äußere Schilderungen (external descriptions of actions, appearances, or landscapes). In journalism, eyewitness Schilderungen report events from a witness’s point of view, often emphasizing sequence and atmosphere.

Schilderungen coexist with related terms such as Beschreibung (neutral description) and Darstellung (depiction or presentation that may advance a thesis). In translation, Schilderungen can be rendered as description, depiction, or portrayal, depending on nuance. The plural Schilderungen typically appears when multiple descriptions or depictions are discussed, such as in literary analysis or documentary reporting.