The Religious Imagery of the Dove (and Other White Birds) in The Grimm Brothers’ Fairy Tales

Voiceover

Presenter(s)

Kaya Cammerata

Abstract or Description

The Grimm Brothers, the compilers of The Grimm Brothers’ Fairy Tales (1812), strived to maintain and spread the truths and customs of the German people. However, since many of the stories were developed and told in informal settings, they dealt with broader topics such as the moral values of “right and wrong” and the power struggle between “good and evil.” When documenting the narratives, Brothers Grimm maintained these thematic tools as common occurrences in many of their stories. They did this specifically through the imagery of white birds and how they interact with the characters that are either morally right or morally wrong. 

Through documenting the actions of the white doves and other birds within the tales of Hansel and Gretel, Cinderella (Aschenputtel), The Three Languages (Die Drei Sprachen), and Little Snow White (Schneewittchen), it can be discerned that the Grimm Brothers maintained, and even altered, the religious themes within the tales which continue to influence readers and societies today.