Brüder Grimm
The Brothers Grimm (German: die Brüder Grimm or die Gebrüder Grimm), Jacob (1785–1863) and Wilhelm (1786–1859), were German academics, linguists, cultural researchers, and authors whose work in folklore, linguistics, and literary scholarship shaped the development of modern folkloristics and the study of the German language. Born in Hanau and raised in Steinau, they were educated in Kassel and at the University of Marburg, where they developed a lasting interest in medieval literature and German cultural history. The first collection of folk tales, Children's and Household Tales (Kinder- und Hausmärchen), was published in 1812. The Grimms are among the best-known story tellers of European folktales, and their work popularized such stories as "Cinderella", "The Frog Prince" (Der Froschkönig), "Hansel and Gretel" (Hänsel und Gretel), "Rapunzel", "Rumpelstiltskin" (Rumpelstilzchen), and "Snow White" (Schneewittchen).
Kinder- und Hausmärchen was based on stories gathered largely from educated, urban acquaintances. They expanded and revised the collection throughout their lives, refining the language and themes of the tales and producing one of the most influential works in world folklore. Alongside this work, they published studies on Germanic and Scandinavian legends, medieval texts, and the history of language. The brothers began the a definitive German dictionary (Deutsches Wörterbuch) in 1838, an ambitious historical dictionary that remained uncompleted at their deaths. Their scholarship and their methods for documenting oral traditions established lasting standards for the study of folklore.
The rise of romanticism in the 19th century revived interest in traditional folk stories, which to the Grimm brothers represented a pure form of national literature and culture. With the goal of researching a scholarly treatise on folk tales, the brothers established a methodology for collecting and recording folk stories that became the basis for studies in folklore; between 1812 and 1857 their collection of Kinder- und Hausmärchen went through many editions and modifications, and grew from 86 stories to more than 200. The Grimms' tales grew steadily in popularity and have since been translated widely, adapted in literature and film, and examined in political, educational, and psychological contexts. Their work continues to influence research in folklore and the history of the German language.
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