Till Eulenspiegel

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Till Eulenspiegel (Low Saxon: Dyl Ulenspegel) was a trickster who originated in the Middle Low German folklore.

According to the tradition, he was born in Kneitlingen near Brunswick in 1300. He travelled through the Holy Roman Empire, especially Northern Germany, but also the Low Countries, Bohemia, and Italy. In the legend, he is presented as a trickster or fool who played practical jokes on his contemporaries. Although craftsmen are featured as the main victims of his pranks, neither the nobility nor the pope are exempt from being fooled by him. While he is likely not a historic person, Eulenspiegel is said to have died in Mölln in 1350, and a gravestone attributed to him is placed there. "Don't move this stone, let that be clear - Eulenspiegel's buried here." is written on the stone in German.

The best known version of the Eulenspiegel story is An entertaining book about Till Eulenspiegel from the land of Brunswick, published anonymously around 1510 in Early New High German. The earliest remaining edition dates from 1515, Straßburg, by Johannes Grieninger. The authorship is attributed to Hermann Bote. Puns that do not work in High German indicate that the book was written in Low German first and translated into High German later in order to find a larger audience.

The literal translation of the High German name gives "owl mirror", two symbols he was depicted with. However, the original Low German is believed to be ul'n Spegel, meaning "wipe the arse".

The book has been translated into many languages. The storyline was adapted or changed during the process.

See also

• The Legend of Thyl Ulenspiegel and Lamme Goedzak, an 1867 novel by Charles De Coster;
• Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche, a late-19th century tone poem by Richard Strauss;
• a 1916 ballet by the Ballets Russes, see Vaslav Nijinsky.
• a verse by Gerhart Hauptmann, titled Till Eulenspiegel (1927)
• Nasreddin, Medieval Middle Eastern literature has a character similar to Eulenspiegel.
• Hershele Ostropoler, an early 19th Century Jewish prankster similar in character to Eulenspiegel.
• Hitar Petar, Bulgarian character similar to Eulenspiegel

External links

• German translation of the 1510 book
• Till Eulenspiegel Museum
• Two example Eulenspiegel Stories translated to English among others
• Till Eulenspiegel the merry prankster by John M. Gaustad and Walt Vogdes http://www.steincollectors.org/library/articles/Eulenspiegel/Eulenspiegel.html

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Last updated on Thursday January 31, 2008 at 05:50:31 PST (GMT -0800)
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