Grimm Translations: Refiguring German Fairy Tales Through
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Grimm Translations: Refiguring German Fairy Tales through English Translation (1823 - 2012) C. D. C. Schroeder A thesis submitted for the degree of DoCtor of Philosophy Kingston University, FaCulty of Arts and Social SCiences July 2018 0.1. Abstract This thesis examines the Cultural anD inDiviDual impaCt in the English language translations of Grimms’ Kinder- und Hausmärchen (KHM) publisheD from 1823 until 2012. It argues that translations reflect the cultural priorities of the translators and the society for which they were written. This hypothesis is tested by analysing eight translations: Edgar Taylor (1823/ 1839), Anonymous (1853), Margaret Hunt (1884), Wanda Gág (1936), Ralph Manheim (1977), Maria Tatar (2004) anD Philip Pullman (2012). Each of these translators has added a distinct Dimension to our unDerstanDing of the tales. After establishing the theoretiCal baCkgrounD of the thesis, the Grimms’ eDitorial Changes in the seven editions of the KHM will be analyseD through DetaileD examination of three tales, whiCh will operate as Case studies. Each subsequent chapter Deals with a specific English edition and also analyses three tales from it. In each case the analysis is preceded by a Comparison of a short excerpt of text taken from both the German source and the English translation. The final Chapter takes four elements of the tale ‘Der FrosChkönig’ [the Frog King] anD examines them in light of the eight previously disCusseD eDitions. This thesis emphasises the Complexity of translating; a process in which multiple factors influence and shape the translator’s ChoiCes, including the translator’s motivations, background and Cultural Context. It concludes that translations are shaped by the translators’ Cultural background and their target audience, therefore each new translation of the KHM furthers our own understanding of the source text and its culture as well as our own. Thus, to widen our perception of the tales they have to be refigured for a new generation. 2 0.2. AcknowleDgements There are many people whom I woulD like to thank for supporting me while researChing anD writing my thesis. Without their help I could not have done it. Both of my supervisors: Prof AnDrew Teverson for always giving me exCellent aDviCe anD feeDbaCk to my Chapters anD moving my thinking into the right DireCtion; and Dr Alison BaverstoCk, for supporting me throughout my writing with valuable feeDbaCk anD seCuring several interviews for me. Everyone who kinDly agreeD to let me interview them: Philip Pullman for sitting Down for an interview in OxforD. Rory Bremner for a fasCinating interview on translating Opera. The translators anD operators at the LonDon Fair for agreeing to let me interview them: Steph Morris, Dr Ruth Martin, Hannah Johnson anD Daniel Hahn. Nina Horn from AlaDin for answering my questions regarDing the German eDition of Philip Pullman’s Grimms Märchen. Anthea Bell whose workshop in CambriDge gave me an insight on how to translate for an English audience. My family for always being there anD supporting me while I was working on my thesis. My frienDs for supporting me by listening to anD DisCussing my iDeas. Jennifer Dunne for helping me with the title anD reaDing over my work. Ursula Ehlers for joining me on my trip to follow the Grimms’ path on the German MärChenstraße. Dr Mikel Koven for his advice and feeDback. Isabel Howdle for her support and constant supply of tea and chocolate. AnD Yvonne Knop for inviting me to High Tea when this is Done. 3 0.3. Table of Contents 0.1. Abstract ............................................................................................................................ 2 0.2. Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................... 3 0.3. Table of Contents ............................................................................................................. 4 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................. 7 1. 1. Methodology .................................................................................................................. 15 1. 2. Literature Review ......................................................................................................... 19 1.2.1. Translation ........................................................................................................................................ 19 1.2.1.1. Early Translation Theories ......................................................................................................... 21 1.2.1.2. Victorian Translations ............................................................................................................... 22 1.2.1.3. Original vs. Translation .............................................................................................................. 24 1.2.1.4. Domestication, Fluency and Negotiation .................................................................................. 26 1.2.1.5. The Issue of Culture in Translation ............................................................................................ 29 1.2.1.6. Children’s Literature in Translation ........................................................................................... 33 1.2.1.7. Translation Types, Processes and Procedures .......................................................................... 37 1.2.1.8. Conclusion ................................................................................................................................. 41 1.2.2. Märchen, the German fairy tales ...................................................................................................... 43 1.2.2.1. Characteristics and Origins of the Genre .................................................................................. 44 1.2.2.2. The Fairy Tale in the Nineteenth Century ................................................................................. 45 1.2.3. On translating Grimm ....................................................................................................................... 48 1.2.4. Conclusion ......................................................................................................................................... 58 2. The Brothers Grimm: The making of the Kinder- und Hausmärchen .................... 59 2.1. Background .................................................................................................................... 60 2.2. The Kinder- und Hausmärchen ..................................................................................... 62 2.3. ‘Der Froschkönig oder der eiserne Heinrich’ .............................................................. 69 2.4. ‘Rumpelstilzchen’ .......................................................................................................... 78 2.5. ‘Allerleirauh’ .................................................................................................................. 87 2.6. Conclusion ...................................................................................................................... 92 3. Edgar Taylor .............................................................................................................. 94 3.1. Background .................................................................................................................... 96 3.2. German Popular Stories 1823 and 1826 ...................................................................... 99 3.3. Gammer Grethel, or German Fairy Tales, and Popular Stories 1839 ........................ 102 3.4. ‘The Goose Girl’ ............................................................................................................. 112 3.4.1. 1826 ................................................................................................................................................ 112 3.4.2. 1839 ................................................................................................................................................ 119 3.5. ‘Hansel and Gretel’ 1823 .............................................................................................. 120 3.6. ‘The Dancing Shoes’ 1839 ............................................................................................ 123 3.7. Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... 126 4. E.H. Wehnert, or ‘the Translators’ .......................................................................... 128 4.1. Background ................................................................................................................... 129 4.2. Household Stories collected by the Brothers Grimm 1853 ......................................... 130 4 4.3. ‘Allerleirauh (The Coat of all Colors)’ ......................................................................... 138 4.4. ‘The Twelve Brothers’ .................................................................................................. 141 4.5. ‘The Wolf and the Seven Little Goats’ .......................................................................... 144 4.6. Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... 146 5. Margaret Hunt ......................................................................................................... 147 5.1. Background ..................................................................................................................