Das Politische im Deutschen Worterbuch

Webber, John J. (2005) Das Politische im Deutschen Worterbuch. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

This thesis examines the German dictionary by Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm, specifically the portion completed by the Brothers Grimm between 1838 and 1863, the year of Jacob's death. 2004 marked the 150th anniversary of the appearance of the first volume of Das Deutsche Wörterbuch, arguably the greatest literary undertaking of the nineteenth century. The introduction gives an overview of the dictionary and introduces the work as not only a literary project, but also one with enormous political meaning and undertones. A brief discussion of the Romantic period puts the project into political context and gives the reader a feeling for the revolutionary spirit of the times. A look at the life experiences and political engagement of the Brothers Grimm, especially Jacob, leads into an analysis of the text itself. The central portion of the thesis concentrates on the specific articles contained in the dictionary and their political aspects and biases. The conclusion focuses on criticisms of the Work and their legitimacy.

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