Nikki Augusta Personal Curriculum
2026: German Fairy Tales
This project is my attempt to bring more structure and depth to my German learning through literature. From May to September 2026, I'll be 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 the contexts that shaped them.
Throughout this period, I'll be documenting my progress on YouTube, while using this site as a space to gather notes, follow my curiosities, and reflect 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 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 follow along :)
Areas to Explore
Some of the questions and themes 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, symbols, and values found in German 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?
- In what ways is food used in these tales, and how can it be understood in relation to historical context, symbolism, and cultural meaning?
Reading List
Part One
Part Two
Acknowledgements
Thank you to Flo Guo for the infinite canvas and zettelkasten inspiration.
