Wilhelm Hauff: life and work

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Compared to other storytellers, Wilhelm Hauff and his works are not very well known to us. Of course, this does not apply to his masterpieces of literature for the smallest - "Dwarf Nose" and "Little Torment". A more sophisticated reader will probably also remember Caliph the Stork and Frozen. Wilhelm Hauff, in addition, managed to write a novel on the historical theme "Liechtenstein" (for which he was compared with W alter Scott), created satirical works, short stories, poems, etc.

Early years

Of course, the first thing that catches your eye upon a cursory acquaintance with the biography of this German writer is its brevity. Wilhelm Hauff lived for a full 24 years, although his life was quite happy, without excessive love anguish and participation in duels.

The storyteller was born in 1802. The boy's first life test was the death of his father, who was imprisoned on an unfair charge of preparing a rebellion. It is believed that this touch of biography will later be reflected in the fairy tale "Little Muk". Wilhelm Hauff moved to his grandfather's house after the incident. There the boy received his first education - in an old library among dozens of shelves.

University studies

The future storyteller studied atFaculty of Theology and Philosophy. Naturally, the young man did not aspire to become a pastor. He did not differ in special humility, but he was always a bully, a rebel in his soul. He even organized an order of "torchbearers", put on somewhat extravagant red trousers and did not even fail to repaint the legs of St. George (that is, his statues). The reason why Wilhelm Hauff chose this particular direction of study was as old as the world - poverty. A full-fledged education in the family of the future writer could only allow one child. It turned out to be not Wilhelm, but his older brother. And only studying at the theological faculty in those days meant a scholarship.

As a writer

After leaving his alma mater, the young man got a job as a tutor in one of the houses. Visiting Paris, Brussels, Bremen - Wilhelm Hauff managed to make these and other trips. The fairy tales that he composed especially for the children of Baroness von Högel made the writer believe in himself and release the Almanac … in 1826.

However, the debut in the art of the word was by no means a collection of fairy tales. Prior to this, the novel "The Man from the Moon" was published, and this attempt at writing, it must be admitted, caused a small scandal. The fact is that Wilhelm Hauff published his book under the name of a popular novelist in those days, whose prose served as a model of tasteless literature. However, it was popular, which means that when readers saw a familiar name on the cover, they bought The Man from the Moon without hesitation. And what was the indignation of the public when it discovered thatfamiliar reading, but an ironic parody of it! Gauf was exposed, he was ordered to pay a fine. So what, but he became a real celebrity!

After the publication of two "Almanacs …" (the third was published after the death of the writer) Wilhelm Hauff continues to work. Creates poems, short stories, becomes the editor of the "Morning Leaf" and … marries a cousin whom he has loved for a long time.

Almanac of fairy tales

Alas, when a young man's life was just beginning to take shape, a cruel fate decided to send him typhoid fever - this is how Wilhelm Hauff ended his journey. Fairy tales form the basis of his creative heritage, and therefore they should be analyzed first. They are distinguished by a complex plot, and the motives for the behavior of the characters may be revealed in another short story. So, the narrative in "Frozen" suddenly breaks off, so that after another story it will continue again.

Another feature of Gauf's fabulous prose is its stylistic design. Readers most likely know that initially the writer was guided by oriental legends (like "A Thousand and One Nights"), but then he began to use European folklore. Meanwhile, despite the huge role of science fiction in the fairy tale genre, Gauf strove to make it more realistic, which coincided with the creative searches of his older contemporary, Hoffmann. He is inferior to the creator of "The Golden Pot" and "Baby Tsakhes" in terms of depth of fantasy, but Wilhelm is much better at building an elegant openwork thread of the story.

The moral of the story is…

Along with the artistic features of Gauf's fairy tales, one cannot fail to note their great educational value. One of the main messages of his prose is the need to be tolerant of other people, even if they seem funny or strange. Any rudeness towards them is fraught with consequences. After all, it was not in vain that all the misadventures of the protagonist from "Dwarf Nose" happened when he insulted the witch. However, having himself been in the shoes of a freak, the boy managed to become better, more benevolent. Another important message is contained in the fairy tale "Frozen". Although the Glass Man endowed Peter Munch with practically inexhaustible we alth, this did not bring joy to the latter. “Happiness is not in money” - Gauf conveyed a somewhat worn-out truth in an original art form.