Okay, what is up with this weather? Winter Weather?!
35 F at night, 44 F during the day. It’s nearly June for great gallopys’ sakes. My Laune can’t take weeks on end total sun block out. Yeah, I know. Suck it up, H.
So yesterday in my german class we discussed the role of female characters in fairytales. In german a fairytale is called, Märchen [roughly pronounced: mare-hen]. We found the german titles for some of the well-known fairy tales quite amusing. For example: Cinderella is Aschenputtel, Sleeping Beauty is Dornröschen [literally: prick flowerette], and Snow White is Schneewittchen. Mind you, our class consists of four females of formal education and a male teacher who studied philosophy. We all grew up hearing these stories. The images and the prejudices that these stories create can be thought of as down right absurd. But they also seemed to have followed us in life even though us four females would be considered strong figures in society. Why is that?
Our class agreed that it has to do with this nearly impossible line that females must walk between feinfühlig and empfindlich. Say what? Leave it to the german language to be so damn specific. So feinfühlig would translate to delicate or sensitive and would be construde as a positive characteristic in a female. Let’s say, something you’d want a care-giver to be.
Empfindlich has the same translations as feinfühlig but goes further and could also mean susceptible, touchy, thin-skinned, and my favorite: weak. Obviously, characteristics not commonly found in a Hero or Heroine, eh? Is it possible to be both strong and sensitive? I believe it is. But it would be difficult to develop that particular character in a short word-of-mouth tale. Maybe I’m wrong, but is there a female character in our classic fairytales that is both strong and sensitive? I think not. Giving the time period that these stories were spoken and then finally written to paper, the female character was primarly described in the subbordinate context.
So I’m having a hard time remembering fairytale female characters and whether or not we would consider them a heroine. I remember the Princess and the Pea, the Ice Queen, the blonde in Rumplestiltskin. Who else? If you have a little girl or boy, would you read these older fairytales to them?
I’m on the fence. But I think I would still read the classic fairytales to a child but explain/discuss the story afterwards. Afterall, I still have some fond and vivid memories of these tales (also, remember “Faerie Tale Theatre” with Shelley Duvall) and I would hope our future offspring have the opportunity to experience them as well. I would hate to see our ancestry’s imagination lost to politcal correctness.
Download Grimm’s Fairy Tales by Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm
English / German
The bothers Grimm collected most of their farytales from local stories when they lived here in Marburg.
Must admit I cannot think of any strong female characters in fairy tales. That is if you discount the witches
Yes, I know I would read to them! My fave book growing up? Brother’s Grimm fairytaes! I mean, Cinderella’s wicked sisters had both their eyes poked out by birds as retribution! We read them, and we’re still ‘strong’ minded. Besides, it lends to imagination.
But let’s see, strong female… I dont think they existed until recently, like Cat Woman, Aeon Flux,… lot’s of recent comics. Hey, Pride and Prejudice!
Paul mentioned that there were strong women in Celtic/Pagan traditions, but were changed when Christians took over.
i joined blogmad. i tried searching for you, but nothing came up for ‘german’. what directory are you under?
hi there
do you still maintain membership with UF Alumni? I dropped it a yr ago. but i wanted to log on and try to find someone (
not listed with GNN). can i borrow your
ID?
so i upgraded my cutenews with the latest version, lost some of my formatting, and it screwed up my archives – all out of order. the forums never seem to have the solution i need. so i had to read, and reread the code. well, i learned how to sort an array
also added an anchor link to ‘back to top’ of page.
i really should be studying…
BlogMad:
i couldnt find you under the general category. there are pages and pages under general.
maybe put it under travel? that’s what i first thought to look. There are barely 2 pages, and there are ex-pats.
I’m under Education.
Blog Surfing is addictive. I love seeing everyones blogs.
surfed here through blogmad and wanted to say hello… i flew from the munich airport to rome when i was vacationing in sulzbach, germany two years ago.
i love your header- the pics are great!
What about Brunhild?
You’re post makes me miss college. Reminds me of some of the class discussions.
Thanks,
K
cool, i came across your site while randomingly surfing blogmad. of course i voted with a thumbs up!
Okay here’s a stab at some strong female charachters, though I’m not sure they fall under the “fairytale category” – I’m a Disney girl at heart.
1. The harp in Jack in the Beanstalk. in some versions, she’s the only one with half a brain and has to tell Jack how to do everything!
2. Of recent fame – Belle from Beauty and Beast – definately educated, discerning, but empathetic.
3. Bambi’s mother and Faline – strong women, though definately secondary charachters.
4. It’s funny, I never thought of Cinderella as a subordinate female charachter, probably because I mainly relate to the Disney version. I always thought of her as hard working, patient, kind, and above all perservering! Even if that Prince hadn’t come along, I’m sure she would have ended up okay!
H – Blogs are fun, I’m going to try blogmad!