Town Musicians of Bremen, written by the Grimm Brothers is a story about four animals who are facing certain death. They became too old. Instead of waiting for their sad death, they decide to go to Bremen, a town of opportunities. They want to become town musicians. On their way, they have to spend the night in the woods where they find a hut with the robbers. The animals scare the gang out of the hut and choose places to sleep.
A few hours later one of the robbers returns to the hut which should be still loaded with their loot. When he tries to light the fire in the heath, the cat attacks, who rests in the ashes, attacks him. The robber withdraws but at the door, the dog bites him and in the yard, the donkey kicks him. Before he escapes, the cock scares him with his crow as well.
This lively story bears a surprising number of positive messages and lessons to learn. I intend to present them to convince you to read it to your kids so they learn a few things about life and society. With more of such stories, our world would be at least a bit better place. Here are ten important lessons from The Bremen Town Musicians.
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What's your favorite lesson from Bremen Town Musicians?
Thank you!
It's helpful to know of Jack Zipes as particularly, uniquely useful because of his translating the 1812, first, original edition.
Also, it's most informative regarding threat as a motivational factor. Threat initially somewhat seemed rather drastic because of my interpreting it as something used by one musician wannabe against the other three and vice versa.
Now I understand that threat serves as something in all places, throughout all times, to unify, to unite peoples whose biogeography, culture, family and friends suffers from impairment if not annihilation.
What greater threat than that final massacre of death ;-{ ?
Their common threat is death. I see that as a high motivation to change something right here and right now.
I believe the intention of the author(s) was mostly to use common animals, familiar to audience.
Ashlliman is probably as close as we can get it on-line. Another option is Jack Zipes who translated the original first edition from 1812. This is available in book version only.
More colorful it is, the better. :)
I imagine a cat with stripes. Can be gray or different shades of brown.
The cat is in most versions presented as female.
Yes, such phrase is part of traditional storytelling where fantasy and reality are melted into some kind of alternative truth.
The ninth lesson, Use Threats As a Motivational Factor, causes me to ponder their most effectiveness as motivational factors.
As I mentioned previously, I wonder about rewards instead of threats.
But what kind of threats would be used in a tight-knit group?
It's interesting that the Bremen town musicians join together the sentient animals that it juxtaposes.
Might there be any symbolism concerning cats, dogs, donkeys and roosters that necessitate these particular sentients being selected for this fairy tale?