Herder, the Grimm Brothers, and Richard Dorson’s Antiquarians: A New Look
- Date
2018-10
- Main contributor
de Caro, Frank
- Summary
-
Richard Dorson was right seeing the antiquarians as the precursors of the study of folklore. Many of them recorded information on “traditions.” However, he did not really understand the rationale behind their work, mixed up in Tudor politics, especially the religious aspects. (The “first” work on folklore in English is an anti-“Puritan” tract.) When Herder and the Grimm Brothers came along in the 18th and early 19th centuries, there was already a body of lore in English which could be transferred to fit in with their ideas. The Grimm Brothers, and the “antiquary-folklorist” Thomas Wight are responsible for developing ideas about survivals, an idea to influence folklore and anthropology for 75 years.
- Collection
American Folklore Society Annual Meeting Presentations
- Unit
IUScholarWorks Repository
Access Restrictions
This item is accessible by: the public.