Deutsche Maerchen

Undergraduate / Graduate

This intermediate course moves students with German-language competency towards a content-based seminar in German. Class time is devoted to discussion of assigned reading in German and a review and expansion of basic German grammar. Assigned reading is primarily fairy tales written by the Brothers Grimm, some well known like "Little Red Riding Hood" and some less well known, like "Frau Holle." We will identify and discuss the most common structural elements of fairy tales, such as character types and plot elements, in order to compare the fairy tales. We will cover two modern adaptations of Grimms' fairy tales to explore the political and social commentary fairy tales can provide. We will use these two adaptations from 1971 and 1996 to discuss class conflict and immigration, respectively. Finally, we read excerpts of a novella from the Romantic era to explore how fairy tale elements are used beyond the genre usually associated with children. Students complete writing assignments in German beginning with a paragraph and ending with a 1-page analytic essay and a 2-page fairy tale of their own creation. A system of drafts and regular grammar assignments help students to identify and correct their errors, improving language acuity. While students may satisfy the college language requirement with just an examination, this course is an important step in our content-based German language program at UChicago and study abroad opportunities.