Brüder Grimms Märchen Die Weiße Schlange ̶ Interpretation und Didaktisierung
Brothers Grimm's Fairy Tale The White Snake – Interpretation and Didactic Approach

Author(s): Mihaela Hristea
Subject(s): Social Sciences, Language and Literature Studies, Literary Texts
Published by: Biblioteca Ştiinţifică a Universităţii de Stat Alecu Russo
Keywords: Brothers Grimm; The White Snake; fairy tale analysis; symbolism; individuation; German Romanticism; German as a Foreign Language (DaF); literature didactics; intercultural competence; narrative structures
Summary/Abstract: This paper explores the fairy tale The White Snake by the Brothers Grimm from both a literary and a didactic perspective. The main objective of the study is to analyze the symbolic, cultural, and psychological dimensions of the narrative and to highlight its relevance for foreign language teaching. The analysis focuses on key motifs such as the acquisition of knowledge, individuation, the relationship between humans and nature, and moral development, all situated within the broader context of German Romanticism. Particular attention is given to symbolic structures and archetypal patterns that shape the transformation of the protagonist throughout the story. Furthermore, the paper considers the didactic potential of the fairy tale, emphasizing its value in fostering interpretative skills, intercultural awareness, and linguistic creativity in German as a foreign language (DaF) contexts. The findings suggest that fairy tales function not only as literary texts but also as effective pedagogical tools that support cognitive, emotional, and cultural learning processes.

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