Grimm’s “The Youth Who Went Forth to Learn What Fear Was”

Who Do You Think You Are?   Anyone interested in the education of the individual might enjoy a few minutes with this light, yet important tale.  There is a folktale trope of the dummling who, useless at home, ventures forth to find his fate.  This story’s idiot seems to lack something fundamental–the ability to shudder at ghost stories or at fearful experiences–but he knows this, and reminds himself continually that he wants to learn.

A waggoner who was striding behind him heard this and asked, “Who are you?”

“I don’t know,” answered the youth.

Then the waggoner asked, “From whence do you come?”

“I know not.”

The anonymous protagonist is contrasted with established figures all around him that act and react normally.  And yet it is his lack–a kind of ignorance–that is the key to his journey through many frightening experiences, and when he overcomes those, he is able to rid his country of the multifarious evils that are barely contained in its castle.

Enjoy the story summary and discussion with us of this surprising tale!

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

00:31 Story Summary

18:48 The Stubborn Idiot Becomes King

26:34 Hamlet and the Boy Who Could Not Shudder