Nikki Augusta Personal Curriculum
German Fairy Tales
This project is my attempt to bring more structure and depth to my German learning through literature, working through an independent study of German fairy tales in their original language.
Rather than approaching them purely as language exercises, I want to use these texts as a way into the cultural and historical world they reflect - exploring their themes, symbolism, and historical contexts.
I'll use this site as a space to gather notes - following my curiosities, and reflecting on what I'm reading. Over time, I hope to build something I can return to and continue developing - a record of both my language learning progress and my growing understanding of these stories and the world they come from.
The full reading list is available here if you'd like to take a look :)
Areas to Explore
Questions I'll be returning to throughout this project:
- What are the defining features of German fairy tales, and how do they shape the structure and meaning of these stories?
- How does German Romanticism inform the themes and symbols found in German literary fairy tales, and what role do these stories play within that tradition?
- How are nature and landscape – particularly the forest – used as motifs, and what significance do they hold within the narratives?
- How is food used in these tales, and what does it tell us about their history and culture?
Reading List
Part One
Part Two
About me
Hello, I'm Nikki :) - a German language learner, and one half of Sloeful.
Acknowledgements
Thank you to Flo Guo for the infinite canvas and zettelkasten inspiration. ♥