Wondrous Oriental Tale

A Wondrous Oriental Tale of a Naked Saint definitely fits into the Fairy Tale genre because of its amorphous time and place, "The Orient... the wilderness of this region" (Wackenroder), "This lasted for many years, day and night" (Wackenroder). There is also the typical fairy tale characteristic of a conflict being resolved. Though this tale is definitely does not end like a Disney version of "happily ever after," there is still the element of a happy ending as the naked saint is freed from his affliction/torture.

When reading this fairy tale, the music builds and builds, "ethereal music flowed... sweet horns and countless magical instruments" until finally a song "arose from the undulating music" (Wackenroder). It is almost as if the poem/song is the climax of the saint's musical experience, and in this sense, the relationship between music and poetic language is that the music makes the poetic language exponentially more powerful and effective.

This story fell into the Kunstmarchen category most definitely because it was distinctly more literary than its folkish counterparts. The specificity of setting especially indicates that the depth of storytelling involved is much more substantial than with a traditional tale--it is not just set in a "kingdom far away." However, the presence of the supernatural and bigger than life occurances firmly root this story in the fairy tale tradition.

The transformative quality of music in this story speaks to the transcendent attributes it has in the real world--it is quite literally the universal language, understood by all nationalities and able to transport a listener to a place outside everyday experience. The same is true for poetry, to an extent, with the obvious linguistic present for poetry but not music.

it is a fairy tale: it has elements of transformation, and is unknown location and time.  Also, music.  Music is the art that all humans experience.  there is no time frame.

I beleive that music and language are intertwined, that music can evoke language, and vice versa.  Writing triggers more specific thoughts and ideas though.  Music is all-encompassing.

A Wondrous Oriental Tale...

     This tale fits into the genre of the fairy tale because of its similar elements.  For one, it takes place in an unidentified time.  There is no time period where this fits into, and no precise time period that we can associate it with.  It is also in an unidentified place.  "...frequently found in the wilderness of this region." (Wackenroder)  While it says, "this region" it is never specified what "this region" is.  Another element similar to the fairy tale is the magic element.  Indescribable things are happening, hence the spinning wheel, but they are unexplainable.  The magic spell at the end also fits into the genre of the fairy tale, as it is broken.

     I think the music works with the poetic language.  It is language in itself, and is the element of the tale that breaks the spell the saint has been under.  I think the flow of the poetry itself, even if it was not specified as music, would be enough language to work in this story.

Assignment 9 - 31. March 2009

Hi Benton, Nikki, Emily, Erin, Michelle and Tiffany,

Here is this week's assignment. Please take note of the deadlines.

Read Wackenroder's A Wondrous Oriental Tale of a Naked Saint and do the following:

1. Using elements from this tale, explain how it fits into the Fairy Tale/Kunstmärchen genre.

2. Trace the relationship of music and poetic language. Is the power evoked by music also accessible to language or does language merely point out to music and/or what music does.

Deadline for posts: 10.00 a.m. on Wednesday

Deadline for comments on a minimum of two posts: Midnight on Wednesday


Looking forward to your posts!

Ann