Cupid and Psyche Vs. Iron Heinrich


Week 10/21/19- 10/27/19
Every fairy tale and folk story have been contaminated and changed in some way, for example The Greek myth of "Cupid and Psyche" and “Iron Heinrich” by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm. As a myth, the story of "Cupid and Psyche" is meant to entertain and reaffirm the power of the gods in a way that is perceived as a true event. "Iron Heinrich," however, is written not as a truth, but to entertain and instill motifs found in some of their other fairy tales.


 The biggest similarity between ‘Iron Heinrich’ by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm and the story ‘Cupid and Psyche’ by Lucius Apuleius is the beauty and the beast motif. Cupid and the frog are the “beasts”. Psyche and the princess are their companions, the “beauty”. We can determine this due to the representation of the beasts within the princesses themselves. This is shown in "Cupid and Psyche" when Psyche looks upon her husband for the first time, wielding a knife, prepared to kill him if he turns out to be the gruesome monster her sisters foreboded. Consequently, in "The Frog King," the princess shows her beastly side as she angrily throws the frog against the wall, in hopes of killing him.
Another smaller similarity but still very present is the first similarity is in the first paragraph of both tales. Both introductions revolve around the youngest daughter who is beyond beautiful and adored by all. 

"In olden times, when wishing still did some good, there lived a king whose daughters were all beautiful, but the youngest was so beautiful that the sun itself, who, indeed, has seen so much, marveled every time it shone upon her face." - The Brothers Grimm (Ed 3)
"A certain king and queen had three daughters. The charms of the two elders were more than common, but the beauty of the youngest was so wonderful that the poverty of language is unable to express its due praise. The fame of her beauty was so great that strangers from neighboring countries came in crowds to enjoy the sight, and looked on her with amazement, paying her that homage which is due only to Venus herself." - Lucius Apuleius
Both stories are very different, but these two biggest similarities demonstrate the power of contaminating a tale. Both can demonstrate and mean similar things but can be two completely different stories.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Week 14: November 25-29

Image
The Ending of A Fairy Tale After reflecting and looking back at all the blogs I have previously posted I have definitely learned so much from this course. Not only was this course a huge eye opener to see how much Walt Disney actually changed the fairy tales, but I also learned where they originated from. The course gave us a huge introduction to Wilhelm and Jacob Grimm and rightfully so, their knowledge and work ethic is amazing and to learn about their family’s hardships and challenges was fascinating. Also, we looked at what a “falcon” is and how every fairy tale has one. This was interesting to see how each fairy tale has one but how all the falcons had a common theme. With looking at the stories as a class we also looked at theorist and how the stories can also be interpreted. This definitely threw everyone for a loop when we first heard some of the theories but as a class, we definitely got the hang of it and understood how the theorist got their theory.   Along, with all
Read more

Week 2: September 2-6

Image
What Is Fact What Is Fiction? The film “The Brothers Grimm” directed by Terry Gilliam is easily misinterpreted for how Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm acted and what they did in real life. Within the movie the brothers are dysfunctional schemers with two random sidekicks who go through towns putting on shows that convince residents they are getting rid of demons. Through the many bars it is shown Wilhelm is cynical, outgoing, and enthusiastic; while Jacob is sensitive, reserved, and timid. While the brothers were schemers, they did within the movie search for fairy tales which is about the only thing the brothers did in real life. According to the text “The Brothers Grimm” by Zipes who within the book tells readers what the brothers did and how they are so significant to history. The brothers did not go around through town to town scheming innocent people for money, they worked extremely hard to support their family especially once their parents died. Due to their father’s death hap
Read more

Week 3: September 9-13

Image
What is a Fairy Tale? The definition of a fairy tale according to Google a fairy tale is “a children's story about magical and imaginary beings and lands.” To most people that is what a fairy tale is but to the Grimm brothers they are so much more. They are history, they teach lessons, and are a way to escape the world and all the ongoing issues. Magic is the heart of every fairy tale, without magic is it really a fairy tale? Almost no one in a fairy tale is surprised when an animal talks, when the ‘hero’ has supernatural powers, or when fairies gives a gift to newly born child. There is no element of disbelief or wonder in a fairy tale when it comes to magic and there are no questions asked by anyone in the fairy tale or anyone reading it. For example, “Sleeping Beauty” she pricks her finger and is put to sleep for 100 years but does not age even after she awakens. Or why the big bad wolf in “Little Red Riding Hood” can talk to her. Now with every fairy tale there is a
Read more