perhaps my perspective is skewed due to small
sample size, but i've actually never heard a question
specifically about michael kohlhaas, though i have heard it as
the giveaway to at least one kleist tossup. the only
kleist i've actually read was the marquise of O, which
was thoroughly excellent--and indeed, my collection
of kleist novellas is entitled _the marquise of O
and other stories_, even though it contains michael
kohlhaas, the earthquake in chile, the duel, and a few
other lesser-known stories. (someday when i have time
i'll read those others. i betcha they're
good.)
but perhaps the small sample size is exactly the key
point--because kleist wasn't such a major presence in the lit
canon until very recently, it's hard to really argue
that "all" or "too many" of the kleist questions are
about michael kohlhaas. given time, the distribution
will probably be something more closely approaching
what people think is actually important. (or maybe,
the way the circuit is headed, given time, we'll also
start hearing more questions about minor works of paolo
uccello and sholokov. but hopefully people will still
concentrate their questions on the most important
works.)
joon