Childhood Enchantment: The Fairy Tale in German Culture and Literature

Catalog description

Class Hours: 3 Lab/Discussion: 0 Credits: 3 Description: Analyzes the role fairy tales have played in German culture and literature over time. Emphasizes the complex reflection of socio-political processes and realities in folk tales and literary fairy tales ( Kunstmärchen ), as well as the use of fairy tale motifs in other literary genres, film, the arts, and music, advertising, and everyday life. Topics to be discussed may include, but are not limited to, gender roles, family relationships, the motif of the quest, the depiction of heroes and heroines, the conflict between good and evil, crime and punishment, the idea of justice, altruism versus egotism, the fairy tale and politics, etc.