work1812 (Grimm); oral tradition, ~medieval
Jacob Bigelow, juniper branch (1817). Wikimedia Commons
Der Wacholderbaum
The one with the juniper tree, the murdered boy and the stew.
To Explore
- How does cannibalism function in German folk traditions and fairy tales, and what meanings and anxieties does it express within these narratives?
- What meanings are associated with the juniper tree in relation to protection, cleansing, and death?
- What was the historical reality of food scarcity in early modern Germany? How might this context shape our understanding of the tale’s treatment of hunger and survival?
reference materials
Books
Hänsel und GretelGrimm Brothers, 1812
The hard facts of the Grimms' fairy talesMaria Tatar
From the beast to the blondeMaria Warner
Films
The juniper treeNietzchka Keene, 1990 (starring Björk)
Other
The paintings of Philipp Otto Runge 1777-1810
Medieval stews
Key figures
Linked nodes
