Der Erlkönig und der Berg König

Jennie ***

Frau Ortega

Precis # 3

28. 4. 2002

Der Erlkönig und

der Berg König

Ich möchte versuchen Johann von Goethe’s “Erlkönig” und Edvard Grieg’s “In the Hall of the Mountain King” zu vergleichen. Goethe ist gestorben in 1832 und Grieg ist elf Jahren später geboren. Sie haben beide einen Eindruck an der Romantische Periode hinterlegt.

Goethe’s gedicht geht um ein kleiner Jünge der Krank ist, der Jünge sieht, hört, und später fühlt einer Erlkönig der ihm mitbringen möchtet. Wo wird der Erlkönig diesen Jünge bringen. In der Todesfall? Der Erlkönig verspricht zu der junge das er mit ihm spielen möchtet, “Gar schöne Spiele spiel ich mit dir;” (Zeile 10). Seiner Töchter warten auch auf ihn, “Meine Töchter sollen dich warten schön;/ Meine Töchter führen den nächtlichen Reihen;/ Und wiegen und tanzen und singen dich ein.” (Zeile 18-20). Der Erlkönig sagt das seiner Töchter der Junge einsingen möchten, es kann ein Metaphor für der Todesfall sein. Der Erlkönig spricht in einen verhöhnter Tön mit der Junge, er fragt den Junge ob er mit ihm kommen möchtet, “Willst, feiner Knabe, du mit mir gehen?” (Zeile 17). Und der Rythmus wird immer schneller und schneller. Wie der Geduld der Erlkönig. Mit einer gewaltsamme stimme lese ich “Und bist du nicht willig, so brauch ich Gewalt.” (Zeile 26). Der Gedicht endet in einem schroff mit der Kind Tot in seiner Vater’s armen. Der Vater’s role in diesem Gedicht ist interrresant weil er hat seinem Kind in seiner Ãrmen den ganze Zeit das dieser Erlkönig den Kind ködert, der Vater hört der Angst in der Stimme seiner Kinds aber er konzentriert sich nur an reiten. Er probiert den Kind zu beruhigen aber das Kind hört den Erlkönigs Stimme klärer als sein eigene Vaters Stimme. Die Gefühle in dieser Stuck ist beunruhigend, genau so die Gefühle die man kriegen kann wenn wir Grieg’s “In the Hall of the Mountain King” hören. Edvard Grieg hat diesen Stuck geshrieben für einen Theater stuck an Peer Gynt. Peer Gynt ist ein Geschichte von einen Mann der viel Tratscht und große lügen verbreitet. Dieser Mann Peer, findet sich in einer Königswurde Halle (royal hall) von der Troll König. Der Troll König war sehr böse mit Peer und hat zu seiner Troll Soldaten ein Ordnung gegeben. Er muss sterben. Die Soldaten möchten erst ein bisschen Katze und Maus spielen, wir hören- Peer (der Cello) und die Soldaten (der Bass). Sie spielen zusammen und am Anfang kann mann hören wie der Cello/Peer probiert leise zu laufen (tip-toe) aber der Bass/Soldaten sind hinter ihm.

Das Lied wird nach und nach in ein Forte tempo spielen, und es kommt zu ein cresendo das errinert mir an die Frage dass der Erlkönig der Junge stellt, “Willst, feiner Knabe du mit mir gehen” (Zeile 17). Später in den Lied kommt es zu einen höhe punkt und in diesem Moment denke ich an “Und bist du nicht willig so brauch ich Gewalt” (Zeile 26).

In beiden Erzählungen -Gedicht und Lied geht um einem Jagd (Verfolgung?) wo beide Kontrahenten (Gegneren?) am Ende Tod liegen.

For my German readers: I am proud of my thoughts and ideas behind this but NOT of my German language. Mein deutsch hat sich viel verbessert in die letzten fünf Jahren.

May Day

Today was such a nice day, so nice that I want to capture it in writing. Today is the first of May and it is a holiday here in Germany. It is the day for "workers", on this day off we went on a "wanderung" (a nice way for saying a -walk-). The eve of May day is called Walpurgisnacht , in the night of Walpurgis the "witches" come out and cause trouble, here it is the local punk kids, they toilett paper trees and cars and turn street signs around etc... yesterday my mother-in-law told me that "in her time" (on the night of Walpurgis) if a boy had a crush on a girl he would spill a line of chalk (liquid) from his house to hers- the idea being that she wake up and follow the chalk line to her secret admirer. So back to the story last night we went out with friends to a bbq and played cards -the men poker, the ladies- phase 10. This morning we picked up Joey, he was at oma's house last night and met up with 4 other couples and a dog We walked 3km (1.5 miles) to Beckstein (a neighboring wine producing town http://www.beckstein.de), in the town there was a big May day festival with food and music. The hall was very nicely decorated with vineyards and there were waitresses running around pouring you wine before you had a chance to say "I'll have another". I had a salad with chicken breast stripes and Jochen had roast beef with horseradish sauce and noodles, and Joey had a bratwurst with fries. After eating, some had a cappucino but I was busy running around in circles with Joey. He was overly excited listening to the polka music and looking at all the people. There was a wood carver there showing his trade and Joey was pocketing all of the shavings the man carved out. We then made our way back home and chose the uphill route instead of walking the way we came. We walked up the hill toward the vineyard through a narrow residential street and do you know what we saw???? A chalk spilled line that either ended or started from one house and led to ??? down the road that we didn't take. We took the road were the pavement turned to grass and we entered the vineyards of Beckstein. It was a steep ass hill but we had our fun. Joey too- he tried to run up hill and his body was at such an odd degree that he looked like he was going to kiss the dirt. Once we were out of the vineyards we had a wonderful view of Koenigshofen, we were on top of the hill that we usually see out of Joey's window, it was a nice change of perspection. We then walked down the lightly forested hill and I was surprised to see information boards along the way (kinda like the historical markers you see along the road in TX.). These info boards informed me that dinosaurs once roamed our area, that seashells were embedded in the hill, what types of fruit trees were along the path and that Napolean's troops once crossed this hill. There was also a little ity bity house that was used as a shrine (forgive me you catholics out there- there is a diff. name for it I know). Then we walked down to the little Biergarten were I used to work and had a bier/latte/apfelshorle. Joey played in the playground and got sand in his mouth when we asked him if an ice cream would help him feel better he somehow felt better again
It was now around 2:30pm and Jochen remembered that last night he amoung others made a semi drunken agreement to play baseball. So we (2 of the four couples) walked up to the sport fields here in Koenigshofen. Noone was there at 2:30 but they all trickeled in within the half hour. Almost everyone that was at the bbq yesterday was there today and it was a great atmosphere. Christoph and I were teaching those that don't know the rules - the rules of the game. Christoph is a coach at the higschool and he has a private set of gloves and bats so that everyone was set to go. They played for about 2.5 hours, the cheering crowd on the side had made a impromtu picknick. Joey was running around with another girl his age and many people took turns to watch the kids. It was then around 6:30 when we decided to go home. We bathed Joey and he was astonished how much sand was in the bathtub. We then made him a quick dinner, played in his room, read a book (or two), and now he is talking himself to sleep. Jochen (my wonderful husband), is cleaning the kitchen and I.... am sitting here typing this up so I can remember what a nice may day we had. In 15 min. Dr. House is on and that's where Jochen and I will eat our tomato & mozzerella salad with a nice garlic baguette. Till next time,

Loving this life

We just got back from our trip to Berlin, we were there over Easter. We stayed (Jochen, Joey and I) with my grandparents who live in on the 5th floor, they have a one bedroom apt. and we slept in the living room. I wish I could spend more time with my grandparents, I learn so much from them. I love how thoughtful my grandmother is. She packed a wet washcloth into a baggie because she thought when I wipe joeys nose with a tissue that it irritates his skin, "lieber was feuchtes nehmen" (something moist is better). I like how she decorates her table for breakfast (with little chicken egg warmers), lunch (with fancily folded easter bunny napkins), coffee and cake is always very nicely "bedecked", and dinner is also always perfectly decorated. She puts a block of butter on a serving dish and uses a warm teaspoon to curl up the top of the butter to make it look like the butter has ...I don't know curls/ or ribbons on top. It's all over the top but to her it's "how it should be". It makes me feel so welcome and I hope to carry some of her traits on, I mean how much more work is it to fold a napkin than to lay a paper towel down. On our trip back home she packed us brotchen into a bag and everyone had the same version brotchen that they made for themselves that morning. Do you follow? Like Monday morning I put philidelphia cream cheese on my brotchen and topped it with cherry tomatoes with salt and pepper on top, and .... oma packed me the same version on my way home, she pays attention like that. I just love 'em.

Don't dream it, li..ive it

Last night I watched the Rocky Horror Picture Show for the umptenth time. I must say though that it has been a good 2 years since the last damn it Janet! It was Jochen's first time! It brought back so many memories... my first time was in Berlin at the Waldbühne with a couple 1000 viewers, paperhats and blowhorns were of course dabei. It was around ´92, and about the same time that I got into Queen and Freddie Mercury. Shortly there after we moved to Lampasas, TX and my life was a whirlwind. I was pretty confused and unhappy in Lampasas but you know what always cheered me up... its strange but all I needed was to watch TRPS, we didn't have it on video so I had to rent it every so often. I remember feeling such empathy for Frank N. Furter and when I told Jochen about these feelings last night I couldn't for the life of me explain WHY! I felt like that.
Does any one else have a Rocky memory they want to share? I'd love to hear it.

Favourable memories

My last blog was titled "memorable moments" but I think the word memorable is more endearing than the moments I mentioned. Let me do right and give you a couple of my Memorable (Mem"o*ra*ble)Worthy to be remembered; very important or remarkable. moments.Kissing Philipp S. in a tree in one of Berlin's parks. The goodbye party Joey and Noam held for me back in 94. Doing 'Love Letters' with Damon in Lampasas, Tx.Cleaning the chimney with Crystal while working at Barry's coffee shop.Skipping school with Michele and getting a black eye from the jet ski.The nice picnic date on a lake with a guitar. thanks MatzeLiving with Molly and D'Ann. Oh those were good days.An unforgettable evening on top of the outlook roofs at Mt. Bonell. You know who you are.Many many nice cuddle moments with Cyndi.Moving to Creglingen and being totally on my own. Jochen's proposal.Our wedding party.Joey's BirthJoey, Joey, Joey,and let there be many more to come. Of course I could have described them in more length but somehow I want those memories to be -just mine-

Moments in life

I don't think this will be in chronological order, moreso intensity. I'm almost 30 and I have a few stories to share.The scariest moment of my life was in 2001. I had applied to be a flight attendant in Austin and after the day of interviews I recieved an invitation to go to Chicago for the second round of interviews. I had to leave around 5am to get to the airport (Austin) on time. I was incredibly nervous. Most of you know I had my little white conv. bug at that time well it was one of those times that the top didn't go up and I didn't have time to fidgit with it so I had to drive with the conv. top down. I didn't want to wrinkle my new business suit so I took off the jacket and drove in the fucking cold in my blouse and skirt. Right after the Highway entrance from San Marcos I had "met" this jackass. I was driving in the slow lane and the ja kept pulling up on MY right hand side (yes the gravel) he was in a big truck and had his head hanging out of the window asking me what my name is etc. I ignored him ALL the way to Austin. He was even getting dangerous and swerving in front of me and braking. So I exited to the airport and he FOLLOWED. I was really getting nervous at this point. I drove really slowly hoping that he would go through a green light and I'd get stuck behind (then I can pull a swifty move and go some side roads). But it didn't happen. I was looking for cops but none where to be found. It wasn't before the time of cell phones but I didn't have one. I made it to the airport and he was still behind me. His look had changed to a smirk and it scared me to pieces. I saw one of the buses that pick up people that parked far away and I parked right in front of it. The bus driver looked at me and I busted out crying. The truck took a mad right turn and the bus driver came to me and asked what was wrong. He tried to calm me down and told me to park my car and he would wait for me, but as nervous as I was my leg was shaking so much that I couldn't put the car in gear. I asked the bus driver to help me and he did. He called security to look be on the look out for the truck driver but I don't know what became of the mess. I was kind of scared to come back to Austin because now the ja knows where I parked and I had the top down the whole time. God that was a scary moment in my life.The next story is a nice fairy tale like story I just reread an email I wrote about the experience and I think I'll just paste it here - nothing like hearing my thoughts about it from back in '98 (Nov. 4). ps. that was while I was in Lueneburg Germany for a year long exchange.Friday when getting on the bus to go to town, i entered to see a nice looking guy (long brown hair and blue eyes) smiling at me, i was flattered and walked to the back of the bus. For the 10 min. ride he shyly turned around and smiled a few times. We both got off at the same stop and both walked into the bank. When i left, he was out side playing with his shoe, briefcase something and we smiled at one another again. I walked down the busy shopping street and went inside a cd shop and just like in the movies i look up from thumbing through cds and there stood the guy with blue eyes. I don't know who left first but later when i went to pick up a poster i had ordered i turned around and saw him again (i know this is almost sounding made up, 'ey) i looked at the church (clock) and it was almost 1, so i took the bus back to school. I noticed my class was cancelled and i went to the cafeteria and had lunch. in the middle of raising the fork to my mouth there stood my guy with his mouth open like he couldn't believe i was sitting there. i wanted to say something but with food about to enter my mouth i didn't know what to do. so before i knew it he was gone. I wanted a coffee afterwards, and i remember saying "danke" to someone who opened the door for me, little did i know it was my blue eyed stranger. he said something really fast in german and i didn't understand him and I, shocked as can be, started speaking english "how is it that i keep running into you today", he looked a little disappointed as if 'she doesn't speak my language', but then i asked in german "what are you doing" , he answered by telling me what he is studying, i smiled and rephrased my Q. by adding a "now" and he said nothing so we went for a coffee together, his name is peter, 28, lives in hamburg and is studying to be a teacher of history and theology.Isn't that crazy! Who knows that could have been a sign, I did see him again at a disco and he invited me to his friends birthday party. I didn't go I was too crazy in love with someone else. The last story for today is from '96. Another story about the troubles my bug got me into. My school friend from Germany was coming to visit me in Texas and it was right before college began. So Joy and I decided to do the first long trip my bug ever made. We drove from my parents house to San Angelo and right outside of SA my car broke down. We waited on the side of the road and a truck driver (damn those big truck drivers) pulled over and told us he'd drive us to an autopart store so I can get a new fanbelt. While driving he asks Joy where she's from and tells her here in Texas you have to be really careful to get into cars with strangers because they are legally allowed to carry handguns, he then reached under his seat and pulled out a gun. We were two scared chicas and he let out a wicked laugh and said "I won't hurt you, but maybe someone else would have". OMG we wanted out. After buying the fan belt he offered to take us back to my bug but we politely said "no thank you". Ok I need to do some stuff around the house. I'd love to hear your comments. Ciao