{"id":4176,"date":"2012-08-19T21:28:25","date_gmt":"2012-08-19T21:28:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/?p=4176"},"modified":"2012-08-19T21:28:25","modified_gmt":"2012-08-19T21:28:25","slug":"german-poetry-johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-der-zauberlehrling-the-sorcerers-apprentice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/german-poetry-johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-der-zauberlehrling-the-sorcerers-apprentice\/","title":{"rendered":"German Poetry (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe): Der Zauberlehrling \u2013 The Sorcerer\u2019s Apprentice"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>I wonder whether foreign learners of German do ever deal with German literature in classroom, especially with poetry. Therefore, I thought it could be maybe interesting to you to get to know some poems that also native speakers of German have to memorize at any time in their school life.<\/p>\n<p>For starters, I chose Johann Wolfgang von Goethe\u2019s \u201cDer Zauberlehrling\u201d (The Sorcerer\u2019s Apprentice). It\u2019s a quite funny poem, which is about the overestimation of the self \u2013 that\u2019s how I interpret the poem. In the video below you can listen to the poem. In my defense, I have to admit that I\u2019m not a professional reader but I hope you will enjoy my interpretation of it.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"German poetry Der Zauberlehrling The Sorcerer&#039;s Apprentice\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/6NyW0m6igZ8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"230\">Hat der alte HexenmeisterSich doch einmal wegbegeben!Und nun sollen seine Geister<\/p>\n<p>Auch nach meinem Willen leben.<\/p>\n<p>Seine Wort\u2019 und Werke<\/p>\n<p>Merkt ich und den Brauch,<\/p>\n<p>Und mit Geistesst\u00e4rke<\/p>\n<p>Tu\u2019 ich Wunder auch.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Walle! Walle<\/p>\n<p>Manche Strecke<\/p>\n<p>Dass, zum Zwecke,<\/p>\n<p>Wasser flie\u00dfe,<\/p>\n<p>Und mit reichem, vollem Schwalle<\/p>\n<p>Zu den Bade sich ergie\u00dfe.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Und nun komm, du alter Besen!<\/p>\n<p>Nimm die schlechten Lumpenh\u00fcllen!<\/p>\n<p>Bist schon lange Knecht gewesen;<\/p>\n<p>Nun erf\u00fclle meinen Willen!<\/p>\n<p>Auf zwei Beinen stehen,<\/p>\n<p>Oben sei ein Kopf!<\/p>\n<p>Eile nun und gehe<\/p>\n<p>Mit dem Wassertopf!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Walle! Walle<\/p>\n<p>Manche Strecke<\/p>\n<p>Dass, zum Zwecke,<\/p>\n<p>Wasser flie\u00dfe,<\/p>\n<p>Und mit reichem, vollem Schwalle<\/p>\n<p>Zu den Bade sich ergie\u00dfe.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Seht, er l\u00e4uft zum Ufer nieder;<\/p>\n<p>Wahrlich! ist schon an dem Flusse,<\/p>\n<p>Und mit Blitzesschnelle wieder<\/p>\n<p>Ist er hier mit raschen Gusse.<\/p>\n<p>Schon zum zweiten Male!<\/p>\n<p>Wie das Becken schwillt!<\/p>\n<p>Wie sich jede Schale<\/p>\n<p>Voll mit Wasser f\u00fcllt.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Stehe! stehe!<\/p>\n<p>Den wir haben<\/p>\n<p>Deiner Gaben<\/p>\n<p>Vollgemessen! \u2013<\/p>\n<p>Ach, ich merk es! Wehe! wehe!<\/p>\n<p>Hab ich doch das Wort vergessen!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Ach, das Wort, worauf am Ende<\/p>\n<p>Er das wird, was er gewesen.<\/p>\n<p>Ach, er l\u00e4uft und bringt beh\u00e4nde!<\/p>\n<p>W\u00e4rst du doch der alte Besen!<\/p>\n<p>Immer neue G\u00fcsse<\/p>\n<p>Bringt er schnell herein,<\/p>\n<p>Ach! und hundert Fl\u00fcsse<\/p>\n<p>St\u00fcrzen auf mich ein.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Nein, nicht l\u00e4nger<\/p>\n<p>Kann ich\u2019s lassen;<\/p>\n<p>Will ihn fassen.<\/p>\n<p>Das ist T\u00fccke!<\/p>\n<p>Ach! nun wird mir immer b\u00e4nger!<\/p>\n<p>Welche Miene! welche Blicke!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>O du Ausgeburt der H\u00f6lle!<\/p>\n<p>Soll das ganze Haus ersaufen?<\/p>\n<p>Seh ich \u00fcber jede Schwelle<\/p>\n<p>Doch schon Wasserstr\u00f6me laufen.<\/p>\n<p>Ein verruchter Besen,<\/p>\n<p>Der nicht h\u00f6ren will!<\/p>\n<p>Stock, der du gewesen,<\/p>\n<p>Steh doch wieder still!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Willst\u2019s am Ende<\/p>\n<p>Gar nicht lassen?<\/p>\n<p>Will dich fassen,<\/p>\n<p>will dich halten<\/p>\n<p>Und das alte Holz behende<\/p>\n<p>Mit dem scharfen Beile spalten.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Seht, da kommt er schleppend wieder!<\/p>\n<p>Wie ich mich nur auf dich werfe,<\/p>\n<p>gleich, o Kobold, liegst du nieder;<\/p>\n<p>krachend trifft die glatte Sch\u00e4rfe.<\/p>\n<p>Wahrlich! brav getroffen!<\/p>\n<p>Seht, er ist entzweit!<\/p>\n<p>Und nun kann ich hoffen,<\/p>\n<p>Und ich atme frei.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Wehe! wehe!<\/p>\n<p>Beide Teile<\/p>\n<p>Stehn in Eile<\/p>\n<p>Schon als Knechte<\/p>\n<p>V\u00f6llig fertig in die H\u00f6he!<\/p>\n<p>Helft mir, ach! ihr hohen M\u00e4chte!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Und sie laufen! Nass und n\u00e4sser<\/p>\n<p>Wird\u2019s im Saal und auf den Stufen.<\/p>\n<p>Welch entsetzliches Gew\u00e4sser!<\/p>\n<p>Herr und Meister! h\u00f6r mich rufen!<\/p>\n<p>Ach, da kommt der Meister!<\/p>\n<p>Herr, die Not ist gro\u00df!<\/p>\n<p>Die ich rief, die Geister,<\/p>\n<p>Werd ich nun nicht los.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn die Ecke,<\/p>\n<p>Besen! Besen!<\/p>\n<p>Seid\u2019s gewesen.<\/p>\n<p>Denn als Geister<\/p>\n<p>Ruft euch nur, zu seinem Zwecke<\/p>\n<p>Erst hervor der alte Meister.\u201d<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"230\">Good! The sorcerer, my old masterleft me here alone today!Now his spirits, for a change,<\/p>\n<p>my own wishes shall obey!<\/p>\n<p>Having memorized<\/p>\n<p>what to say and do,<\/p>\n<p>with my powers of will I can<\/p>\n<p>do some witching, too!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Go, I say,<\/p>\n<p>Go on your way,<\/p>\n<p>do not tarry,<\/p>\n<p>water carry,<\/p>\n<p>let it flow abundantly,<\/p>\n<p>and prepare a bath for me!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Come on now, old broom, get dressed,<\/p>\n<p>these old rags will do just fine!<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019re a slave in any case,<\/p>\n<p>and today you will be mine!<\/p>\n<p>May you have two legs,<\/p>\n<p>and a head on top,<\/p>\n<p>take the bucket, quick<\/p>\n<p>hurry, do not stop!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Go, I say,<\/p>\n<p>Go on your way,<\/p>\n<p>do not tarry,<\/p>\n<p>water carry,<\/p>\n<p>let it flow abundantly,<\/p>\n<p>and prepare a bath for me!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Look, how to the bank he\u2019s running!<\/p>\n<p>and now he has reached the river,<\/p>\n<p>he returns, as quickly as lightening,<\/p>\n<p>once water to deliver,<\/p>\n<p>Look! The tub already<\/p>\n<p>is almost filled up!<\/p>\n<p>And how he\u2019s filling<\/p>\n<p>Every bowl and cup!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Stop! Stand still!<\/p>\n<p>Heed my will!<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ve enough<\/p>\n<p>of the stuff!<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ve forgotten \u2013 woe is me!<\/p>\n<p>what the magic word may be.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Oh, the word to change him back<\/p>\n<p>into what he was before!<\/p>\n<p>Oh, he runs, and keeps on going!<\/p>\n<p>Wish you\u2019d be a broom once more!<\/p>\n<p>He keeps bringing water<\/p>\n<p>quickly as can be,<\/p>\n<p>and a hundred rivers<\/p>\n<p>he pours down on me!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>No, no longer<\/p>\n<p>aan I let him,<\/p>\n<p>I must get him<\/p>\n<p>with some trick!<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m beginning to feel sick.<\/p>\n<p>What a look! \u2013 and what a face!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>O, you ugly child of Hades!<\/p>\n<p>The entire house will drown!<\/p>\n<p>Everything I look, I see<\/p>\n<p>water, water, running down.<\/p>\n<p>Be you damned, old broom,<\/p>\n<p>why won\u2019t you obey?<\/p>\n<p>Be a stick once more,<\/p>\n<p>please, I beg you, stay!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Is the end<\/p>\n<p>not in sight?<\/p>\n<p>I will grab you,<\/p>\n<p>hold you tight,<\/p>\n<p>with my axe I\u2019ll split the brittle<\/p>\n<p>old wood smartly down the middle.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Here he comes again with water!<\/p>\n<p>Now I\u2019ll throw myself upon you,<\/p>\n<p>and the sharpness of my axe<\/p>\n<p>I will test, o spirit, on you.<\/p>\n<p>Well, a perfect hit!<\/p>\n<p>See how he is split!<\/p>\n<p>Now there\u2019s hope form e,<\/p>\n<p>and I can breathe free!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Woe is me! Both pieces<\/p>\n<p>come to life anew,<\/p>\n<p>now, to do my bidding<\/p>\n<p>I have servants two!<\/p>\n<p>Help me, o great powers!<\/p>\n<p>Please, I\u2019m begging you!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>And they\u2019re running! Wet and wetter<\/p>\n<p>get the stairs, the rooms, the hall!<\/p>\n<p>What a deluge! What a flood!<\/p>\n<p>Lord and master, hear my call!<\/p>\n<p>Ah, here comes the master!<\/p>\n<p>I have need of Thee!<\/p>\n<p>from the spirits that I called<\/p>\n<p>Sir, deliver me!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBack now, broom,<\/p>\n<p>into the closet!<\/p>\n<p>Be thou as thou<\/p>\n<p>wert before!<\/p>\n<p>Until I, the real master<\/p>\n<p>call thee forth to serve once more!\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I wonder whether foreign learners of German do ever deal with German literature in classroom, especially with poetry. Therefore, I thought it could be maybe interesting to you to get to know some poems that also native speakers of German have to memorize at any time in their school life. For starters, I chose Johann&hellip;<\/p>\n<p class=\"post-item__readmore\"><a class=\"btn btn--md\" href=\"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/german-poetry-johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-der-zauberlehrling-the-sorcerers-apprentice\/\">Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":54,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":""},"categories":[3,8,10],"tags":[238314,5766,2401,238313],"class_list":["post-4176","post","type-post","status-publish","hentry","category-culture","category-language","category-literature","tag-der-zauberlehrling","tag-johann-wolfgang-von-goethe","tag-poetry","tag-the-sorcerers-apprentice"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4176","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/54"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4176"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4176\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13253,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4176\/revisions\/13253"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4176"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4176"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4176"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}