Since I am of German descent, I read a German folktale called Old Woman in the Wood. It is about a girl whose caravan gets slaughtered by theives while she hides helplessly behind a tree. She then wanders the forest alone until visited by a talking dove who feeds and shelters her for three days by using trees. On the third day he asks for the girl's help freeing him of the spell making him a tree (except for 2 hours as a dove each day). She then embarks on an adventure to an old woman/witch's home to retrieve a ring that holds the curse put on the tree/dove. The girl is successful and returns to the forest where the dove had visited her. A tree then speaks to her and becomes a man. This man is actually a king's son. They fall in love and live happily ever after.
The most prominent archetype present in this story is a hero. The girl is not the typical maiden like most unmarried women in folktales, but a hero to the helpless prince who seems to resemble a maiden in almost all aspects, except he is not female. The old woman represents a crone and even a trickster because she tricks people into thinking she is a helpless old woman in the story.
This is a typical german folktale in the sense that there is a crone that is eventually defeated by a hero. Tricksters are also common in German folklore, commonly disguised as women, game animals, trees, lakes and other nature related things. In German culture rings are used
to represent many admirable qualities. For example, their armies have used rings along with medals to reward soldiers for outstanding acts in war. Also, another example from modern times is the German automobile company Audi's symbol.
The most prominent archetype present in this story is a hero. The girl is not the typical maiden like most unmarried women in folktales, but a hero to the helpless prince who seems to resemble a maiden in almost all aspects, except he is not female. The old woman represents a crone and even a trickster because she tricks people into thinking she is a helpless old woman in the story.
This is a typical german folktale in the sense that there is a crone that is eventually defeated by a hero. Tricksters are also common in German folklore, commonly disguised as women, game animals, trees, lakes and other nature related things. In German culture rings are used
to represent many admirable qualities. For example, their armies have used rings along with medals to reward soldiers for outstanding acts in war. Also, another example from modern times is the German automobile company Audi's symbol.
1 comment:
Fabulous!! An extra point on this blog! You know, many fairy tales originated in Germany, and rings are common motifs.
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