2015-16 Academic Catalog

Since its publication in 1812, the Grimm Brothers' Children's and Household Tales found a readership that spanned countries, languages, and generations. Its universal appeal can be traced to its origins: it reflects not only the influence of early nineteenth century Germany, but also oral folklore traditions that go back thousands of years and range from as far away as Iceland, the Middle-East, and India. This course introduces students to a wide selection of these and other folktales from the Indo-European tradition as well as to numerous perspectives for understanding these folktales. We will examine the aesthetic, social, historical, and psychological values that these tales reflect, and will also discuss significant theoretical and methodological paradigms within folklore studies, including structural, socio-historical, psychoanalytic, and feminist perspectives. Finally, we will discuss the continuing influence of this folk tradition on popular and elite culture of our time. All readings, discussion, and coursework will be in English.