Märchentexte zwischen Volkspoesie und bürgerlicher Sprachkultur : zur sozialsymbolischen Potenz von Sprache

The publication of the 'Kinder- und Hausmärchen' (= KHM) by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm is closely linked to the constitution of the bourgeoisie in the 19th century. In contrast, a hitherto little-researched corpus of fairy tale and legend texts from the Bavarian-Bohemian border region bears witness to the unadulterated storytelling culture of the rural population. In the following article, it becomes clear to what extent the textual genesis of the 'Kinder- und Hausmärchen' focuses on the establishment of a bourgeois linguistic culture, which distinguishes itself from the behaviour of the nobility and peasant life alike.