delit1-6, Exercise 3: Did the Grimms simply write down peasant tales?

Model answer (check the details):

Assessment: the claim is an oversimplification. The Grimms gathered tales from friends and acquaintances, many of them educated and middle-class, and from printed sources, as well as from some country informants. Wilhelm Grimm in particular revised the language and added or changed material over successive editions to suit the tone he wanted, including more moral and Christian elements and fewer sexual references.

How to check:
1. Compare the first edition (1812 to 1815) with the later ones, and note the changes.
2. Look at the scholarly editions that identify each tale's source and informant.
3. Read modern studies of the collection by folklorists.
4. Compare a tale with earlier printed versions and with variants from other countries.

Result: the collection is a mixture of collecting, editing and authorship, which is why folklorists describe it with care.