GERM 363 - The Fairy Tale (Grimms to Disney)

Deemed unsuitable for children (too gruesome!), the Grimm Brothers’ original fairy tales have been revised to suit popular sensibilities ever since their first appearance in 1812. What hasn’t changed is their ability to point up what is wrong with the “real” world and to gratify a simple but irrefutable sense of justice. The course traces the history and adaptions of the Grimms’ tales with an eye to understanding their cultural and psychological functions and the reasons for their perennial appeal. We will ask: what is folklore? What is German romanticism and why did its fairy tales come to define the genre? What do fairy tales tell us about the history of childhood and of gender? Readings include both well-known and obscure tales from the Grimms; screenings may include The Company of Wolves, Into the Woods, The Lion King, Mulan. Three papers and regular reading responses. Taught in German. Prerequisites: German 308 or 309, or study abroad, or permission of the instructor. Offered fall term of even-numbered years. Prerequisite(s): GERM 308 or GERM 309; or completion of Macalester’s or another approved study abroad program; or permission of the instructor. Offered fall term of even-numbered years. (4 Credits)