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Author
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Comment
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rnl10
Unregistered User
(11/7/04 9:09 pm)
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Medicine in Fairy Tales
I'm composign a research on medicine in fairy tales but I'm at a loss of good sources. I noticed in the Grimm fairy tales the aspect of leaves bringing people back to life in The Three Snake Leaves. Also, the presence of herbs and "magic" elsewhere. Can anyone help me out with information or let me know what you think about this topic??? Thanks!
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midori snyder
Registered User
(11/8/04 4:37 pm)
ezSupporter
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Re: Medicine in Fairy Tales
Here again it's really important to let us know what sort of cultures are you looking at? European fairy tales? American Folkore? Mexican folklore for instance has lots of native plants as healers--even the scary forest creatures have magical agave leaves which will give one strength. Are you narrowing your search to one or area? or is open to the world?
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rnl10
Unregistered User
(11/8/04 6:09 pm)
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Culture
I would like to focus on German fairy tales in general, but that is proving to be too narrow. For that reason I am willing to look on a more broad spectrum. I am at a point where I am open to the world. I'm just having a terrible time finding secondary sources other than the fairy tales themselves. But, information about useful fairy/folk tales would be helpful also!
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Mary
Unregistered User
(11/9/04 1:53 am)
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Godfather Death
Have a look at the fairy tale Godfather Death in which a man names Death as godfather to his son. If I'm remembering correctly the son becomes a doctor and has the ability to know if his patients are curable or not. If they are destined to die, he sees his godfather at the foot of the bed, if they are destined to live he sees Death at the top of the bed. He abuses this gift however when his betrothed falls ill. Seeing his godfather at the foot of the bed, he turns the bed around so that Death is standing at the head. There's more...he ventures to Death's realm, etc....
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Don
Registered User
(11/9/04 12:36 pm)
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Medicine in German Tales
You should consult the Enzyklopaedie des Maerchens, in particular the article on "Heilen, Heiler, Heilmittel."
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Heather
KT
Registered User
(11/10/04 6:58 pm)
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Re: Medicine in German Tales
In "Rapunzel," the mother's sickness is caused by her desire to eat the leaves in the witch's garden, and cured when she gets some.
In "The Water of Life," the king will be cured by drinking it.
And if melancholy could be considered an illness, laughter cures the princess in "The Golden Goose."
These are a few examples off the top of my head-- it seems like an interesting topic.
Best--
Heather Tomlinson
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magic
realist
Registered User
(11/23/04 8:44 am)
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The Andrew Lang (and wife) Fairy Tales
As far as I remember the Andrew Lang books of fairy tales include quite a few that involve doctors and cures for ailments.
I have a feeling (based on no real research though) that there is some arab/alchemical influence in these - but that may not be relevant to your question.
Searchable texts are here:
www.online-literature.com...ive_fairy/
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magic
realist
Registered User
(11/23/04 8:59 am)
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Arabian/alchemical influence
Oh - yes, just to follow up on my post - Lang (the Langs?) did a version of the Arabian Nights. I didn't know that, but it makes sense and explains the alchemical influence in the "colour" fairy tale books.
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