In order to fully understand the collections created by the Grimm brothers we must look at their early lives.
Wilhelm and Jacob Grimm were the eldest two brothers of six siblings. The brothers were born in Hanau, Germany where their father worked as a town clerk. When both parents passed away within a twelve-year period, Jacob was left to take care of his siblings. Despite these hardships both of the brothers proceeded to study law at the University of Marburg. Their interest in civil service work was stalled when the brothers met Clemens Brentano and Friedrick Karl von Savigny. These two scholars ignited an interest of poetry and art within the brothers. After completing school both brothers went into literary research jobs. Shortly after, the brothers pursued their own interests and values, creating collections of folk songs, poetry and stories. Jacob was particularly interested in German linguistics and created Grimm’s law. This grammar law explains how particular Indo-European consonants experiences changes in Germanic languages that are not observed in other languages like Latin or Greek. The brothers were also involved in some political strife and because of this eventually ended up in Berlin. Their extensive involvement in politics and current events accentuates the passion that is portrayed throughout many of their works.
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