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Trish
Unregistered User
(1/23/02 3:55:34 am)
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A query and a big thank you from down under !
Hello to you all,
I have been reading this forum for some months now and must say how interesting and helpful I have found your comments.
I am a bereavement counselor by profession, but have two reasons for my interest in this forum firstly: I co-facilitate drama workshops with my sister whereby we use myths/legends/fables/fairy-tales to explore values and relevancies in our modern times and secondly I am currently doing the dramaturgy for a production of "Into The Woods' here in my home city - the Blue Mountains in Australia.
I wonder if someone could help me with this query: the director would like to "name" the set-changers (crew)something special since they will be incorporated into the action of the play.
And so I was hoping to find a German word perhaps that would infer a "trickster", or a shape-shifter or someone who opens the portal between earth and beyond...being that they are responsible for transporting us ...if you get the symbolism/metaphor
Any suggestions would be gratefully received.
This is a wonderful forum-keep up the fabulous work!
cheers from Trish
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ZMethos
Registered User
(1/23/02 6:56:13 am)
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Re: A query and a big thank you from down under !
Well, I don't know anything about German, I must say, but Loki was the Norse god of mischief, a trickster and shape-shifter. (Also the name of my cat, which explains his behavior most of time.) I also have a vague recollection of Robin Goodfellow and/or Puck, but that could be completely off base.
~M. Pepper
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Lotti
Unregistered User
(1/23/02 2:32:02 pm)
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uh-oh, I had better think of something good
Hello Trish!
When you requested a German word, I felt kind of honour-bound to think something up - it is my native tongue, after all - but I do not have the perfect word yet, I fear.
The first thing that popped into my mind was "Irrlicht" singular, or "Irrlichter", plural. Its the "lights" you find over the swamp - because they move so quickly and "change shape". But then they are usually thought of leading people onto the dangerous parts of the swamp. Not what you are aiming at, even if I like the sound of the word. Still, they move very quickly, an aspect you might like to use.
We have "Till Eulenspiegel" who is a Trickster and a Jester and who shows people the truth. That might be better... One of the stories about Till that I always remember, because my mother cites it often, is that Till cried and moaned when he walked downhill, and laughed and whistled when he went uphill - because he was then looking ahead to his way down and had feared before the next climb. Hmmm. Not the perfect fit, yet.
Ok, the obvious thing would be the "Heinzelmännchen" who help people and are very good and diligent workers.
The thing is, in most of our fairy tales the shape-shifters are the "bad guys" plus I have trouble recalling any tales that involve the "other world". Frau Holle, perhaps, but for the rest, the Brothers Grimm and all their contemporaries were so deeply rooted in solid, no-nonsense middle-class respectability that their tales are usually placed in the same setting - no fairies and goblins, no enchanted hills for the little folk.
I definitely have to do some homework on your question!
Regards from Germany,
Lotti
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Trish
Unregistered User
(1/24/02 1:05:58 am)
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tricksters;portal openers etc
Hi ~M.pepper and Lotti,
Many thanks for your replies. I realise that it is a hard "fit", but I appreciate your suggestions and will pass them on the director and anymore that you might want to add to the list.
Lucky for me, Lotti, that you felt compelled to uphold the honour of your native tongue. The German reference is a salute to the Brothers Grimm. The director and set designer want an "organic" woods and the stage crew will be a part of the woods as well as moving it around. Sounds all too spooky! Your suggestion of "Irrlichter" might just fit the bill in this instance..Thank you.
Cheers from Trish and greetings from Australia.
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