Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach, known as one of the most important representatives of thematic approach of ethical and pedagogical aspects in the literary production in her era. The mentioned topic is didactically literalized in the das Gemeindekind (1956) where Pavel is portrayed as a useless boy with the “bad” or “evil” conscience. He faces a great change in his fate and tries to reach a better life with the help of his teacher; Habrecht/ (cz.) Mamprav, a propagator of truth on earth. For this reason, the whole plot is based on juxtaposing cognitive dichotomous factors such as: stupidity vs. wisdom, lie vs. truth, silence vs. scream and so on. Because the conscience, which the author appeals to is one of the human consciousness forms and therefore related to the knowledge and the truth. Therefore, theoretically, the corresponding investigation of the cognitive aspects of the representation techniques seems to be highly relevant.

In addition, the article deals with the following questions: to what extent and how is Ebner’s work transformed literarily and epistemologically using the example of the das Gemeindekind as one of the most renowned representatives of German-Moravian and Austrian realism. Based on research question above, from the historical framework of German-Moravian literature, authentication, lateralization and structural strategies are considered as epistemological aspects of the realistic narrativity of Ebner-Eschenbach.

Despite the linguistic immediacy and relative simplicity of the pictorial expressions and structure in her era, Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach manages to cross the borderline of the spatiality, temporality and materiality. By reproducing the real phenomena, EbnerEschenbach addresses the epistemic and cognitive perspectives. To avoid the pronounced metaphorical approach, the author approaches the development of epistemological domains in her work using other strategies. Because they are inseparable elements of a unity or logic, the mutual permeability, transfer of functions, representability of strategies must be taken into account. 

The real world and its language which are closely together in terms of content and structure, form the basis and the starting point of the design of literary motifs. This in turn teaches us putting the deep epistemological view in place at the same time.

Thus, Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach brings the epistemological belief to the reader through three strategies discussed in this article such as authentication, literary and structural strategies. Therefore, it can be stated that das Gemeindekind was conceived as poetological as well as epistemological work.

The phenomena of narration, invention, writing and reading are based on the variety of cognitive prerequisites, which can be interpreted differently depending on cultural and historical aspects. Due to the secondary characteristics (does not correspond to the primary needs of man) of artistic or literary use of the abilities, narrative has an adaptive multifunctional character. The technique of narrative becomes the structural principle of human experience. In other words, the perceived becomes corporeality of thought at the literary sensuality.

Due to the dominant artistic expression in the current form of realism and its affiliation with the poetic techniques, the novel is characterized by its emotional content which is known as a fundamental feature in art. Emotions with their metaphorical and stylistic impacts which we literate the leeway of our experiences is considered as means that led us to recognize the world. In this context, the article is focused on how the novel by Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach contributes to the making of legible and readable experiences and emotions of our own as specific “spaces”. The artistic lateralization of the temporary “architectural” space (definitive era of the 19th century) acts as an emotionally charged perceptual offer. Despite the presence of the event with its yearning for new spaces for physical and emotional positioning, Ebner’s work still remains “present” for today’s audience.

One of the cognitive achievements of the narrativization of the material which emanating from didactic purposes of Eschenbach is the delivery of offer and tracks rather than final explanations so that the reader could follow. Thus, the author has not explicitly stated the moral and didactic final appeal but she has set the meaning in motion and made it discursively available at the same time. The narrative strategy in the das Gemeindekind is regarded as the opportunity to entertain and at the same time to make them understandable. That’s because narrativity reduces the complexity. In the article, the authenticity, literacy, and architectonics were considered to be some of the components of a descriptive pattern for epistemology and their interrelationship with cognitive aspects of knowledge and truth is illustrated as well.

Another contribution by author is the attitude of faithfulness to her origin which is noticeable in her work. The work of Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach is of great importance with regards to German (Austrian) and Czech literature relations in particular with literary phenomenon of Bohemia, Moravia and Prague German.