126-466 German Fairy Tales

This subject is taught in German. Formerly available as 126-028. Students who have completed 126-028 are not eligible to enrol in this subject.

37.5 points of second/third year subjects in German language. European studies students wishing to enrol in this subject would normally have completed 37.5 points of European studies at second/third year.

In this subject a number of German fairy tales will be discussed. Typical fairy tale motifs and characters will be examined as well as texts which twentieth-century German authors wrote based upon these tales. As purely literary criteria do not do justice to fairy tales, other approaches, such as historical, sociological and psychological interpretations, will be explored. Students who compete this subject should be familiar with the origins and characteristics of the European fairy tales; and have an understanding of the evolution and development of the Grimm's Kinder-und Hausmärchen.

• have acquired skills in research, critical thinking and contextualising information;

• have developed skills in communicating knowledge intelligibly through oral presentations and essays in German.

A 1000 word classpaper for 3rd year students 30% (due during semester) and a 1200 word classpaper for 4th year students 30% (due during semester), an essay of 3000 words for 3rd year students 70% (due at the end of semester) and an essay of 4000 words for 4th year students 70% (due at the end of semester).

• H Rölleke (ed), Grimms Märchen. Frankfurt/M: Surhkamp 1998.