Grimm Brothers Research Paper

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The Grimm Brothers’ Fairy Tales by Wilhelm and Jacob Grimm are a collection of German children’s stories. They were first published in 1812 and are known for their gory endings. Many fairy tales have derived from these German tales. Today these stories are magical and have happy endings, unlike the original fairy tales. The Grimm Brothers’ Fairy Tales were changed to be happier than the original stories as society changed.
Literature of Germany in the 1800’s is very different from the literature of the present. During the 19th century romanticism became very popular. This style of writing included humor, wit and beauty. The Grimm Brothers were known for writing in this style. They also became interested in passing down and preserving the German …show more content…

The stories were read and passed down to teach lessons to children and to teach them about their culture. Although the stories are now known for their more gruesome endings it was not a concern of Germans in the past. These tales were not just for young children, but were carried on through generations by elders. "The age for hearing these fairy tales is three years to death," says Elfriede Kleinhans, a professional German storyteller. (O’Neill, Thomas. “Guardians of the Fairy Tale: The Brothers Grimm.”)
In America the Grimm Brothers’ Fairy Tales were largely criticized for their gory details and sexual references. Many people argued that it was not suitable for children. As time passed and society found tales like the Grimm Brother’s to be unacceptable, fairy tales changed. Present children’s stories are full of neutral subjects and plots where good prevails and is left unharmed. These stories are used as entertainment for kids and like the Grimm Brothers Fairy Tales, to teach …show more content…

We will always be fascinated at the changes these tales have gone through and the effect society had on them. Especially how they contributed to the enormous success of companies such as Walt Disney Pictures, Roth Films, and Paramount Pictures. The Grimm Brothers will always be highly regarded for their works and style of writing. The changes their tales have undergone will continue to be made. It is very likely that more movies and books will be made with the same plots as the Grimm Brothers’ stories.

Works Cited

Denecke, Ludwig . "Brothers Grimm." Encyclopedia Britannica. 30 Jul. 2013. 4 Apr. 2014. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/246228/Brothers-Grimm/2874/Beginnings-and-Kassel-period>.
"Fairytales too Scary for Modern Children, Say Parents." The Telegraph. 12 Feb. 2012. 3 Apr. 2014. <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howabou>.
Gaylord, Chris . "Brothers Grimm Saved Classic Fairy Tales by Changing Them Forever." The Christian Science Monitor. 20 Dec. 2012. 3 Apr. 2014. <http://www.csmonitor.com/Innovation/Tech-Culture/2>.
O’Neill, Thomas . "Grimms' Fairy Tales." National Geographic. 5 Apr. 2014.

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