Das Boese im Maerchen: Perrault, Grimm und Hofmannsthal (German text, Jacob Ludwig Carl Grimm, Wilhelm Carl Grimm, Charles Perrault, France, Hugo von Hoffmannsthal, Austria)

As a genre, the traditional fairy tale appears to be very simplistic. Closer observation, however, proves that this literary form is extremely complex and composed of many different elements which can be analysed from various points of view.; In this thesis we examine the way in which fairy tales treat the contrast between the categories of good and evil. The concept of evil manifests itself particularly in the genre of the fairy tale. Within the composition of this literary form “das Bóse” is of the greatest importance.; The depiction of evil depends on historical and philosophical developments and changes. The examples of Perrault, the Grimms and Hofmannsthal have been chosen to illustrate this. Each author manifests the dominant paradigms of thought and perception of his age.