An analysis of the children's book Traumfresserchen by Michael Ende and the fairy tale Hansel and Gretel from a comparative perspective Cover Image

Eine Analyse des Kinderbuches Traumfresserchen von Michael Ende und des Märchens Hänsel und Gretel aus der komparatistischen Perspektive
An analysis of the children's book Traumfresserchen by Michael Ende and the fairy tale Hansel and Gretel from a comparative perspective

Author(s): Kadir Albayrak
Subject(s): Comparative Study of Literature, German Literature, Theory of Literature, Sociology of Literature
Published by: Namık Kemal Üniversitesi Fen-Edebiyat Fakültesi
Keywords: Michael Ende; Das Traumfresserchen; Children's and Youth Literature; Fairy Tales; Hansel and Gretel;

Summary/Abstract: Michael Ende has written many works that can be considered significant for children's and young adult literature. Neverending Story and Momo are the most famous of these. In this study, Ende's work Das Traumfresserchen and Hansel and Gretel fairy tale are examined. In the work it is narrated that Schlafittchen, the daughter of the king and queen, who lives in Schlummerland, cannot sleep because she is afraid of bad dreams, and the king embarks on a difficult journey to find a solution to this problem to find. On this difficult journey, the king meets a creature called dream Traumfresserchen and he writes a spell to the king, as soon as this spell is read, Traumfresserchen comes and eats bad dreams and the princess can sleep well again. It is clear that Ende's children's book contains many elements of the fairy tale genre. Some of these elements can be listed as the king's journey, the fantastic figure, and incantations. Ende's work in particular is reminiscent of the fairy tale of Hansel and Gretel in relation to the father-child relationship. In this study, Ende's work Das Traumfresserchen is compared with the fairy tale Hansel and Gretel for fairytale characteristics.

  • Issue Year: 11/2023
  • Issue No: 22
  • Page Range: 65-79
  • Page Count: 15
  • Language: German