Language:
German
Year of publication:
2011
Titel der Quelle:
Zeitschrift für Religions- und Geistesgeschichte
Angaben zur Quelle:
63,3 (2011) 234-249
Keywords:
Grimm, Jacob,
;
Antisemitism in literature
;
German literature History and criticism
Abstract:
Discusses the portrayal of Jews in three of the Grimm brothers' fairy tales: "Die Klare Sonne bringt's an den Tag", "Der gute Handel", and "Der Jude im Dorn". Whereas the Jew in the first tale is positively depicted, the two latter stories, included in the second edition of the brothers' collected fairy tales, published in 1819, feature Jews who are greedy and dishonest. Argues that, however problematic, the texts do not prove that the brothers were antisemitic, nor were later revisions to the texts an attempt to cover up latent hatred of the Jews. Rather, the brothers' "sin" was that they overlooked the breaches of law depicted in "Der gute Handel" and "Der Jude im Dorn". Traces the reception of the two contested fairy tales in the 20th century, especially in Nazi Germany.
DOI:
10.1163/157007311796534001
URL:
Locate this publication in Israeli libraries
Permalink