Wilhelm Carl Grimm
Wilhelm Carl Grimm, also known as Karl, was born on February 24, 1786, in Hanau, Landgraviate of Hesse-Kassel, Holy Roman Empire. He was a German author and anthropologist, and the younger brother of Jacob Grimm, forming the literary duo known as the Brothers Grimm[1†].
Early Years and Education
Wilhelm Carl Grimm was born on February 24, 1786, in Hanau, in the Landgraviate of Hesse-Kassel, which was part of the Holy Roman Empire[1†]. He was the younger brother of Jacob Grimm[1†]. The two brothers were the oldest in a family of five brothers and one sister[1†][2†]. Their father, Philipp Wilhelm, was a lawyer and town clerk in Hanau, and later justiciary in Steinau, another small Hessian town[1†][2†].
In 1803, Wilhelm started studying law at the University of Marburg, one year after his brother Jacob[1†]. The two brothers spent their entire lives close together. In their school days, they had one bed and one table in common; as students, they had two beds and two tables in the same room[1†]. They always lived under one roof and had their books and property in common[1†].
At Marburg, they came under the influence of Clemens Brentano, who awakened in both a love of folk poetry, and Friedrich Karl von Savigny, cofounder of the historical school of jurisprudence, who taught them a method of antiquarian investigation that formed the real basis of all their later work[1†][2†]. Others, too, strongly influenced the Grimms, particularly the philosopher Johann Gottfried von Herder, with his ideas on folk poetry[1†][2†].
Career Development and Achievements
Wilhelm Grimm’s career was marked by a series of notable positions and contributions to the field of literature and anthropology[1†].
After completing his studies, Wilhelm served as a court librarian and archivist under Bonaparte in Kassel[1†][3†]. He also held positions as a delegation secretary, censor, and librarian under the Hessian Electors[1†][3†]. In 1831, Wilhelm received a junior librarian’s position and was later awarded the title of supernumerary, and in 1835, he became a full-time professor[1†].
In 1837, Wilhelm, along with his brother Jacob and five other professors at the University of Göttingen, formed a group known as the Göttinger Sieben (The Göttingen Seven)[1†]. They protested against Ernest Augustus, King of Hanover, whom they accused of violating the constitution[1†]. All seven were fired by the king[1†].
Wilhelm’s most significant contribution to literature was the collection of fairy tales he published with his brother Jacob, known in English as Grimms’ Fairy Tales[1†]. This collection, first published in 1812, has had a profound impact on the field of folklore[1†][2†].
Wilhelm and his brother Jacob also compiled other collections of folk music and folk literature[1†][2†]. Jacob, in particular, did important work in historical linguistics and Germanic philology, which included the formulation of Grimm’s law[1†][2†]. The brothers were among the most important German scholars of their time[1†][2†].
First Publication of His Main Works
Wilhelm Grimm, along with his brother Jacob, is best known for their collection of fairy tales, known in English as Grimms’ Fairy Tales[1†]. This collection was first published in 1812[1†][4†].
The fairy tales they popularized include stories such as:
- “Cinderella” (“Aschenputtel”, 1812): The story of a kind and beautiful girl who is mistreated by her stepmother and stepsisters but ultimately finds happiness with the help of her fairy godmother and a prince who recognizes her true worth[1†][5†].
- “The Frog Prince” (“Der Froschkönig”, 1812): A tale of a princess who, after reluctantly befriending a frog that turns out to be an enchanted prince, learns about true friendship and keeping promises[1†][5†].
- “Hansel and Gretel” (“Hänsel und Gretel”, 1812): Siblings Hansel and Gretel are abandoned in the forest and encounter a wicked witch who lives in a house made of sweets. Through cleverness and bravery, they manage to escape and return home[1†][5†].
- “Little Red Riding Hood” (“Rotkäppchen”, 1812): The story of a young girl who is tricked by a cunning wolf while visiting her grandmother. Depending on the version, she is either saved by a huntsman or outwits the wolf herself[1†][5†].
- “Rapunzel” (“Rapunzel”, 1812): A young woman with long, magical hair is locked away in a tower by a witch. She is eventually rescued by a prince who helps her escape, leading to a reunion with her birth parents and a happy life together[1†][5†].
- “Rumpelstiltskin” (“Rumpelstilzchen”, 1812): A miller's daughter must spin straw into gold to save her life. She is aided by a mysterious little man who demands her firstborn child as payment. She outsmarts him by guessing his name, thus breaking his power[1†][5†].
- “Sleeping Beauty” (“Dornröschen”, 1812): A princess cursed to fall into a deep sleep for a hundred years, only to be awakened by the kiss of a prince who has braved many obstacles to reach her[1†][5†].
- “Snow White” (“Schneewittchen”, 1812): The story of a beautiful princess who, after being targeted by her jealous stepmother, finds refuge with seven dwarfs. Her stepmother's repeated attempts on her life are thwarted, and Snow White eventually marries a prince[1†][5†].
In addition to the fairy tales, the brothers also compiled other collections of folk music and folk literature[1†][6†]. Some of Wilhelm’s notable works include:
- “The Two Oldest German Poems of the Eighth Century (Die beiden ältesten deutschen Gedichte aus dem achten Jahrhundert, 1812)”: [1†][4†].
- “Old German Forests (Altdeutsche Wälder, 1813-1816)”, published in three volumes between 1813 and 1816[1†][4†].
- “The German Heroic Tale” (1829), published in 1829[1†][7†].
These works, along with the fairy tales, have had a significant impact on the preservation and understanding of German folklore and literature. They continue to be widely read and studied today[1†][6†][7†][5†][4†].
Analysis and Evaluation
Wilhelm Grimm’s work, particularly the fairy tales he collected and published with his brother Jacob, has had a profound impact on literature and culture. Their collection, known as Grimms’ Fairy Tales, is considered a classic and influential work of folklore[8†]. It was first published in two volumes as “Kinder- und Hausmärchen” (1812–15; “Children’s and Household Tales”) and later revised and enlarged seven times between 1819 and 1857[8†]. The collection comprises some 200 stories, most of which were adopted from oral sources[8†].
The universal appeal of these stories—whether they are considered as psychological archetypes or as fantasy narratives—has inspired a myriad of print, theatrical, operatic, balletic, and cinematic adaptations[8†]. The tales are about children and families and how they reacted to the difficult conditions under which they lived[8†][9†]. The Grimms believed the stories and their morals emanated naturally from the German people in an oral tradition, and they wanted to preserve them before the tales were lost forever[8†][9†].
In the process of publishing seven different editions over forty years, the Grimms made vast changes in the contents and style[8†][9†]. The stories in the first edition are closer to the oral tradition than the tales of the final, which can be regarded more as a literary collection[8†][9†]. Wilhelm, the younger brother, continually honed the tales so that they would resonate with a growing literary public[8†][9†]. Their books would become second in popularity only to the Bible in German-speaking lands[8†][9†].
The Brothers Grimm’s work points back vestigially to the pre-Christian myths of Northern Europe[8†][10†]. Yet, Wilhelm Grimm’s radical revisions from edition to edition have given many critics pause and suggest caution against attributing too much significance to any particular detail[8†][10†].
Personal Life
Wilhelm Grimm was born in February 1786 in Hanau, in Hesse-Kassel[1†]. He was the second eldest in a family of five brothers and one sister[1†][2†]. His father, Philipp Wilhelm, was a lawyer and town clerk in Hanau, and later justiciary in Steinau, another small Hessian town[1†][2†].
In 1825, at the age of 39, Wilhelm married Henriette Dorothea Wild, also known as Dortchen[1†]. She was a pharmacist’s daughter[1†]. Wilhelm’s marriage did not change the harmony of the brothers[1†]. They continued to live under one roof and had their books and property in common[1†]. Richard Cleasby, a contemporary of the Grimm brothers, observed, "they both live in the same house, and in such harmony and community that one might almost imagine the children were common property"[1†].
Wilhelm and Dortchen had four children[1†][11†]. Despite his family responsibilities, Wilhelm continued to edit their folktales, which had become wildly popular, just behind the Bible in German-speaking countries[1†][11†].
Wilhelm was known to have a less comprehensive and energetic mind than his brother, preferring to confine himself to some limited and definitely bounded field of work[1†]. He utilized everything that bore directly on his own studies and ignored the rest[1†]. These studies were almost always of a literary nature[1†]. Wilhelm took great delight in music, for which his brother had but a moderate liking, and he had a remarkable gift of story-telling[1†]. He was much sought in society, which he frequented much more than his brother[1†].
Wilhelm Grimm died in Berlin of an infection at the age of 73 on December 16, 1859[1†].
Conclusion and Legacy
Wilhelm Grimm, along with his brother Jacob, left an indelible mark on the world of literature and folklore[1†]. Their collection of fairy tales, known as Grimms’ Fairy Tales, has become a cornerstone of Western children’s literature[1†]. The tales they collected and published have been translated into numerous languages and have been adapted into various forms of media, including film, television, and theater[1†].
The Brothers Grimm believed that the fairy tales they collected were deeply rooted in German culture[1†]. They sought to highlight the importance of German heritage through these tales[1†]. Their work has been linked to the idea of German nationhood[1†].
Their legacy extends beyond the realm of literature. The Brothers Grimm were also instrumental in the development of German philology and linguistics[1†][12†]. Their work in these fields has had a profound influence on subsequent generations of scholars[1†][12†].
Despite the immense popularity of their fairy tales, the Brothers Grimm’s legacy is not without controversy. Some critics argue that their tales have been turned into kitsch entertainment, straying from their original intent[1†][12†].
However, the enduring popularity of Grimms’ Fairy Tales testifies to their lasting appeal. The tales continue to captivate audiences with their timeless themes and characters[1†][12†]. The Brothers Grimm’s legacy lives on, not only in their tales but also in the continued study and appreciation of folklore and linguistics[1†][12†].
Key Information
- Also Known As: Wilhelm Carl Grimm, Karl[1†][13†]
- Born: February 24, 1786, Hanau, Landgraviate of Hesse-Kassel, Holy Roman Empire[1†][13†]
- Died: December 16, 1859 (aged 73), Berlin, Kingdom of Prussia, German Confederation[1†][13†]
- Nationality: German[1†][13†]
- Occupation: Author, Anthropologist[1†][13†]
- Notable Works: Grimms’ Fairy Tales[1†][13†]
- Notable Achievements: Along with his brother Jacob, Wilhelm Grimm formed the literary duo known as the Brothers Grimm[1†][13†]. They published a collection of fairy tales, protested against the King of Hanover for violating the constitution, and were part of a group known as the Göttinger Sieben (The Göttingen Seven)[1†][13†].
References and Citations:
- Wikipedia (English) - Wilhelm Grimm [website] - link
- Britannica - Brothers Grimm: German folklorists and linguists [website] - link
- Cambridge University Press Blog - The Brothers Grimm and the Making of German Nationalism [website] - link
- Wikisource (English) - Brothers Grimm [website] - link
- Wikiwand - Brothers Grimm - Wikiwand [website] - link
- Britannica - Wilhelm Carl Grimm: German author, folklorist, and philologist [website] - link
- Britannica - Brothers Grimm summary [website] - link
- Britannica - Grimm’s Fairy Tales: work by Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm [website] - link
- The National Endowment for the Humanities - How the Grimm Brothers Saved the Fairy Tale [website] - link
- eNotes - Grimms' Fairy Tales Analysis [website] - link
- Grunge - Who Were The Brothers Grimm? [website] - link
- Project MUSE - Johns Hopkins University Press - Two Hundred Years After Once Upon a Time: The Legacy of the Brothers Grimm and Their Tales in Germany [website] - link
- Simple Wikipedia (English) - Wilhelm Grimm [website] - link
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