Wackenroder’s “A Wondrous Oriental Tale of a Naked Saint” is a fairy tale because it has some of the elements we discussed in class like magic, transformation, undefined setting, and a character type that is not developed. The main character goes through a struggle (a magic spell that has him always spinning the wheel and feeling that something is missing), then he hears the music and is transformed into a spirit. It is, more specifically, a Kunstmarchen because it is literary and artistic, and written by people who want to create a polished literary form. The painstakingly detailed descriptions and use of metaphors are also representative of a Kunstmarchen.
I believe that the power evoked by music is not also accessible to language. The experiences you have when you listen to music cannot be achieved through poetic language, as I found while reading Wackenroder’s tale. Just reading the song did not move me much, although I’m positive if I heard it, it would make much more of an impact. Based on personal experience, I think that language merely points to music.
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Another element that specifies the story as a kunstmarchen is the vagueness of the magic represented. While the saint is under a magic spell it is not stated who cast the spell and the spell is only broken by accident not because someone went on a quest to free the saint.
ReplyDeleteFurthermore, the story is a kunstmarchen due to a more sophisticated and intelligent writing that may not be as understandable to children who prefer simpler stories found in many folk/fairy tales.
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