Eckbert the Fair
Sawyer Auer
LIBLR 123
Take home exam #1
October 23,2012
Tieck; Eckbert the Fair Tiek’s “fairy tale” of Eckbert the fair strays from the classical conception of style given to modern fairy tales. Fairy tales are often associated with several defining characteristics; extra-ordinary circumstances, “happy endings” and a moral to be learned. While Tieck’s tale does obey two of these three guidelines, he does so in a negative manor going the opposite way of twentieth century thought. Tiek’s protagonist Eckbert is first and foremost described as “…little more than medium height with short, light blond hair that hung in a plain fashion, closely framing his pale, drawn face.” (pg.35). Eckbert is, normal, plain and pale. Average in more ways than one. A stark difference with traditional fairy tales has already showed itself in Tiek’s opening paragraph. The main character, Eckbert is a plain quiet simple man. As opposed to traditionally tales whereas the lead is a special person, in special circumstances. Furthermore the perspective changes within the narrative bouncing from Eckbert to his wife Bertha and then back to Eckbert. Daunting and depression social issues plague the story line. Bertha’s story begins with accounts of her parents beating her. Eckbert murders his friend in cold blood, incest, as discovered in the final page. Conventional, modern fairy tales take into account the youth of their readers and with this their context is molded to cater to such. Tiek used an arsenal of controversial subjects throughout the story, another way in which Tiek’s strays from the path from what is considered a “fairy tale” today. Ludwig Tiek’s tale has a theme to it, several factors that come back from the beginning to the end that paint the image that Tiek was attempting to portray through his examples. In the end of the story the message is finally brought to the forefront for the reader, punishing Eckbert for a deed that his wife committed and for his
LIBLR 123
Take home exam #1
October 23,2012
Tieck; Eckbert the Fair Tiek’s “fairy tale” of Eckbert the fair strays from the classical conception of style given to modern fairy tales. Fairy tales are often associated with several defining characteristics; extra-ordinary circumstances, “happy endings” and a moral to be learned. While Tieck’s tale does obey two of these three guidelines, he does so in a negative manor going the opposite way of twentieth century thought. Tiek’s protagonist Eckbert is first and foremost described as “…little more than medium height with short, light blond hair that hung in a plain fashion, closely framing his pale, drawn face.” (pg.35). Eckbert is, normal, plain and pale. Average in more ways than one. A stark difference with traditional fairy tales has already showed itself in Tiek’s opening paragraph. The main character, Eckbert is a plain quiet simple man. As opposed to traditionally tales whereas the lead is a special person, in special circumstances. Furthermore the perspective changes within the narrative bouncing from Eckbert to his wife Bertha and then back to Eckbert. Daunting and depression social issues plague the story line. Bertha’s story begins with accounts of her parents beating her. Eckbert murders his friend in cold blood, incest, as discovered in the final page. Conventional, modern fairy tales take into account the youth of their readers and with this their context is molded to cater to such. Tiek used an arsenal of controversial subjects throughout the story, another way in which Tiek’s strays from the path from what is considered a “fairy tale” today. Ludwig Tiek’s tale has a theme to it, several factors that come back from the beginning to the end that paint the image that Tiek was attempting to portray through his examples. In the end of the story the message is finally brought to the forefront for the reader, punishing Eckbert for a deed that his wife committed and for his