Grimms' Tales for Young and Old
Update: read the comments to this post.
I've decided to read the complete Grimms' Tales cover-to-cover (eventually, but not record it publically I've decided, too much burden, too much burden!).
Folk tales contain unique and deep visual language, especially when they are presented raw. The better known Grimms' ones are legitimate classics. Most are unique gems of one kind or another. Some of the longer ones - the lesser known ones - are little hallucinogenic epics.
The only translation worth reading is the Ralph Manheim one. It is literal and keeps in all the quirks that contain meaning even though academics can't figure them out and think they need to be smoothed over.
Full title: Grimms' Tales for Young and Old, translated by Ralph Manheim; ISBN: 0-385-18950-8. It is complete, with 200 tales and 10 legends. 627 pages.
6 Comments:
The Boy Who Left Home to Find Out About the Shivers is exceptional. One of the lesser-known Grimms' tales, it draws on the same influences Grail legend and romance draws on. It's also very Christian. It is also bracing (Invigorating or refreshing; strengthening). A good tale to be included in any reading list on spiritual warfare.
I recall your readings of Grimm back in 2001 standing out as revelatory and unique - at the time it seemed uniquely yours. Do you intend to post your interpretations?
Just saw your comment, Paul of England. I recall those readings too. They were fun because they were exercises in seeing the context of each tale in the 'whole'. I should re-read those then do some more.
In case there is confusion Paul of England uses a '+' sign as his name, and I have a blog I titled '+' long ago. There is no connection between the two. Paul of England lives in England. I live in California.
As for those Grimms' Tales interpretation I wrote way back when I just have to wonder what has happened to me. Could I have that insight now? Probably, actually. Still, it is scary to see how one can lose development and understanding over time if one gets lazy.
Here is the forum I posted the interpretations on:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/grimms_work/
It's not set up as a forum but just a place to post Grimms' tale interpretations. The language of the 'Work' is being used, so, if that language is not known (though it's a universal language) the interpretations may seem foreign-sounding...
On that forum the '12 Dancing Princesses' is particularly valuable in depicting the realm of death. A rare depiction of the realm of death.
Ah the realm of death. Isn't it interesting. For many people it remains quite a taboo topic, although in another sense people treat it less as a taboo and more as a fact. Yet look at Bach, his 'lyrics' where he is almost pining and longing for death that he can be released of the bondage of the flesh and united with Christ. Who today, longs for death? (Ok suicide nutheads.) I mean there is just no depth of feeling about these thiings, sort of intellectualised away into a vapour. Just a casual thought ...
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