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"The Sorcerer's Apprentice" (german: "Der Zauberlehrling", link=no, italic=no) is a poem by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe written in 1797. The poem is a ballad in 14
stanza In poetry, a stanza (; from Italian language, Italian ''stanza'' , "room") is a group of lines within a poem, usually set off from others by a blank line or Indentation (typesetting), indentation. Stanzas can have regular rhyme scheme, rhyme and ...
s.


Story

The poem begins as an old sorcerer departs his workshop, leaving his apprentice with chores to perform. Tired of fetching water by pail, the apprentice enchants a broom to do the work for him, using magic in which he is not fully trained. The floor is soon awash with water, and the apprentice realizes that he cannot stop the broom because he does not know the magic required to do so. The apprentice splits the broom in two with an axe, but each of the pieces becomes a whole broom that takes up a pail and continues fetching water, now at twice the speed. At this increased pace, the entire room quickly begins to flood. When all seems lost, the old sorcerer returns and quickly breaks the spell. The poem concludes with the old sorcerer's statement that only a master should invoke powerful spirits.


German culture

Goethe's is well known in the German-speaking world. The lines in which the apprentice implores the returning sorcerer to help him with the mess he created have turned into a
cliché A cliché ( or ) is an element of an artistic work, saying, or idea that has become overused to the point of losing its original meaning or effect, even to the point of being weird or irritating, especially when at some earlier time it was consi ...
, especially the line "Die Geister, die ich rief" ("The spirits that I summoned"), a simplified version of one of Goethe's lines "Die ich rief, die Geister, / Werd' ich nun nicht los" - "The spirits that I summoned / I now cannot rid myself of again", which is often used to describe someone who summons help or allies that the individual cannot control, especially in politics.


Analysis

The story of the Sorcerer's Apprentice is classified in the Aarne–Thompson–Uther Index as ATU 325 (The Magician and his Pupil) or ATU 325* (The Apprentice and the Ghosts). The tale assumes two formats, mostly: *The first type: a father sells his son to a sorcerer-type character (magician, warlock, wizard). The boy learns to shapeshift, escapes the magician's workshop and returns to his father. They both concoct a plan to earn money and scam people: the man shall sell the boy in equine form. The magician notices the trick and buys the horse-boy. What follows is a shape-shifting duel between magician and apprentice, and the apprentice wins by shapeshifting into a fox and eating the magician in rooster shape. *The second type: the father is absent from the story. The boy apprentices himself to the sorcerer, learns his tricks and escapes. With the help of a princess, the apprentice defeats the magician in a shapeshifiting duel. Folklorist
Stith Thompson Stith Thompson (March 7, 1885 – January 10, 1976) was an American folklorist: he has been described as "America's most important folklorist". He is the "Thompson" of the Aarne–Thompson–Uther Index, which indexes folktales by type, and the ...
suggested an Asian origin for the tale, supposedly India. He also remarked on the popularity of the tale, which has spread throughout Asia and Europe, to Africa and the Americas.
Hasan M. El-Shamy Hasan M. El-Shamy (born 1938) is a professor of folklore (folkloristics) in the Department of Folklore and Ethnomusicology, the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Cultures, and the African Studies Program at Indiana University. He received a ...
stated that an old form of the tale type appears in the ''
Tale of Setne Khamwas and Si-Osire The "Tale of Setne Khamwas and Si-Osire" (also known as ''Setne II'') is a Demotic Egyptian story attested on papyrus in Roman Egypt. Some argue that it is an answer to the biblical account about Sheba testing Solomon with hard "questions" in 1 Ki ...
'', as the episode of a confrontation between two sorcerers. Further studies indicate that the motif of the "transformation combat" between two sorcerous characters shows great antiquity.


Similar stories

Some versions of the tale differ from Goethe's, and in some versions the sorcerer is angry at the apprentice and in some even expels the apprentice for causing the mess. In other versions, the sorcerer is a bit amused at the apprentice and he simply chides his apprentice about the need to be able to properly control such magic once summoned. The sorcerer's anger with the apprentice, which appears in both the Greek ''Philopseudes'' and the film ''
Fantasia Fantasia International Film Festival (also known as Fantasia-fest, FanTasia, and Fant-Asia) is a film festival that has been based mainly in Montreal since its founding in 1996. Regularly held in July of each year, it is valued by both hardcore ...
'', does not appear in Goethe's "Der Zauberlehrling".


''Philopseudes''

'' Lover of Lies'' ( grc, Φιλοψευδής, Philopseudḗs, Lover of lies) is a short
frame story A frame is often a structural system that supports other components of a physical construction and/or steel frame that limits the construction's extent. Frame and FRAME may also refer to: Physical objects In building construction *Framing (con ...
by
Lucian Lucian of Samosata, '; la, Lucianus Samosatensis ( 125 – after 180) was a Hellenized Syrian satirist, rhetorician and pamphleteer Pamphleteer is a historical term for someone who creates or distributes pamphlets, unbound (and therefore ...
, written c. AD 150. The narrator, Tychiades, is visiting the house of a sick and elderly friend, Eucrates, where he has an argument about the reality of the
supernatural Supernatural refers to phenomena or entities that are beyond the laws of nature. The term is derived from Medieval Latin , from Latin (above, beyond, or outside of) + (nature) Though the corollary term "nature", has had multiple meanings si ...
. Eucrates and several other visitors tell various tales, intended to convince him that supernatural phenomena are real. Each story in turn is either rebutted or ridiculed by Tychiades. Eucrates recounts a tale extremely similar to Goethe's "Zauberlehrling", which had supposedly happened to him in his youth. It is, indeed, the oldest known variation of this tale type. There are several differences: * The sorcerer is, instead, an Egyptian mystic – a priest of Isis called Pancrates. * Eucrates is not an apprentice, but a companion who eavesdrops on Pancrates casting his spell. * Although a broom is listed as one of the items that can be animated by the spell, Eucrates actually uses a pestle. (Pancrates also sometimes used the bar of a door.)


Other related stories

Similar themes (such as the power of magic or technology turning against the insufficiently wise person invoking it) are found in many traditions and works of art. Comparative mythologist Patrice Lajoye argues for a parallel between the
Brythonic Brittonic or Brythonic may refer to: *Common Brittonic, or Brythonic, the Celtic language anciently spoken in Great Britain *Brittonic languages, a branch of the Celtic languages descended from Common Brittonic *Britons (Celtic people) The Br ...
legend of Taliesin and a Russian fairy tale, ''Le savoir magique'', collected by Alexander Afanasyev with both stories being classified as ATU 325. As referenced by Joseph Jacobs in his ''English Fairy Tales'', Joseph Tunison (1849–1916) analysed several apocryphal medieval tales of Roman poet Virgil, including one where Virgil summons and banishes an evil entity. Scholarship acknowledges the popularity of the tale type in Yiddish folklore. 17th-century French author Eustace le Noble also wrote a literary variant of the tale type with ''L'apprenti magicien''.


In mythology

* Midas * Golem *
Abhimanyu Abhimanyu is a legendary warrior from the ancient Hindu history ''Mahabharata''. He was born to the third Pandava prince Arjuna and the Yadu princess Subhadra, who was Krishna's younger sister. The ''Sambhava Parva'' of the Adi Parva sta ...
in
Chakravyuha The Padmavyūha ( sa, पद्मव्यूह) or Chakravyūha ( sa, चक्रव्यूह) is a military formation used to surround enemies, depicted in the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata''. It resembles a labyrinth of multiple defensive ...
in the '' Mahabharata'' * The Sañjīva Jātaka story about the boastful pupil who is killed by the tiger he brought to life with a spell, without yet being taught the counter-spell by his teacher.


In folk and fairy tales

* " Maestro Lattantio and His Apprentice Dionigi" * " The Master and his Pupil" * " The Thief and His Master" * " Sweet Porridge" * " The Magic Book" * " Farmer Weathersky" * Faust *
Krabat Krabat () is a character in Sorbian folklore, also dubbed the " Wendish Faust". First records of him were mentioned in 1839 minutes of the Akademischen Vereins für lausitzische Geschichte und Sprache, but all writings of the association were ...


In literature

* ''
Strega Nona ''Strega Nona'' is a children's picturebook written and illustrated by Tomie dePaola. If considered as a folktale, the story is Aarne-Thompson type 565, the Magic Mill. It concerns Strega Nona ("Grandma Witch" in Italian, though it is actually s ...
'' * '' Frankenstein'' * " The Monkey's Paw" * '' The Man Who Could Work Miracles'' (and numerous other works by H. G. Wells)


Other uses

The animated 1940 Disney film ''
Fantasia Fantasia International Film Festival (also known as Fantasia-fest, FanTasia, and Fant-Asia) is a film festival that has been based mainly in Montreal since its founding in 1996. Regularly held in July of each year, it is valued by both hardcore ...
'' popularized the story from Goethe's poem, and the 1897 Paul Dukas symphonic poem based on it, in one of eight animated
short Short may refer to: Places * Short (crater), a lunar impact crater on the near side of the Moon * Short, Mississippi, an unincorporated community * Short, Oklahoma, a census-designated place People * Short (surname) * List of people known as ...
s based on classical music. In the piece, which retains the title " The Sorcerer's Apprentice",
Mickey Mouse Mickey Mouse is an animated cartoon Character (arts), character co-created in 1928 by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks. The longtime mascot of The Walt Disney Company, Mickey is an Anthropomorphism, anthropomorphic mouse who typically wears red sho ...
plays the apprentice, and the story follows Goethe's original closely, except that the sorcerer ( Yen Sid, or ''Disney'' backwards) is stern and angry with his apprentice when he saves him. ''Fantasia'' popularized Goethe's story to a worldwide audience. The segment proved so popular that it was repeated, in its original form, in the sequel '' Fantasia 2000''. Literary adaptations of the tale include several fiction and nonfiction books, including the novel '' The Sorcerer's Apprentice'' (1910) by Hanns Heinz Ewers, and Christopher Bulis's novel '' The Sorcerer's Apprentice'' (1995) based on the TV series ''
Doctor Who ''Doctor Who'' is a British science fiction television series broadcast by the BBC since 1963. The series depicts the adventures of a Time Lord called the Doctor, an extraterrestrial being who appears to be human. The Doctor explores the u ...
''. Nonfiction books with this title include ''The Sorcerer's Apprentice: A Journey Through Africa'' (1948) by Elspeth Huxley, and the travel book '' Sorcerer's Apprentice'' (1998) by Tahir Shah. Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels alluded to Goethe's poem in '' The Communist Manifesto'' (1848), comparing modern bourgeois society to "the sorcerer who is no longer able to control the powers of the nether world whom he has called up by his spells." " The Sorcerer's Apprentice" is a 1962 episode of ''
Alfred Hitchcock Presents ''Alfred Hitchcock Presents'' is an American television anthology series created, hosted and produced by Alfred Hitchcock, aired on CBS and NBC between 1955 and 1965. It features dramas, thrillers and mysteries. Between 1962 and 1965 it was ren ...
'' featuring Brandon deWilde as mentally-troubled youth Hugo, coveting the magic wand of a kindly magician. The poem's story is alluded to in several episodes of the fairy-tale drama '' Once Upon a Time'', especially in " The Apprentice" (2014). A variation of the Dukas piece also plays in certain scenes. The apprentice himself is a recurring character, while the sorcerer is shown to be
Merlin Merlin ( cy, Myrddin, kw, Marzhin, br, Merzhin) is a mythical figure prominently featured in the legend of King Arthur and best known as a mage, with several other main roles. His usual depiction, based on an amalgamation of historic and le ...
. The film '' The Sorcerer's Apprentice'' (2010) features a scene based on Goethe's poem (and the ''Fantasia'' version). "Top Secret Apprentice", a segment of the '' Tiny Toon Adventures'' episode broadcast on February 1, 1991, is a modern version of the story, with
Buster Bunny The ''Tiny Toon Adventures'' animated television series features an extensive cast of characters. The show's central characters are mostly various forms of anthropomorphic animals, based on Looney Tunes characters from earlier films and shows. ...
messing around with Bugs Bunny's cartoon scenery machine and getting into trouble. The ''Fantasia'' version appears in the video game series ''
Kingdom Hearts is a series of action role-playing games developed and published by Square Enix (originally by Square (video game company), Square). It is a collaboration between Square Enix and The Walt Disney Company and is under the leadership of Tetsuya ...
'' (2002), with the sorcerer Yen Sid serving as an adviser to the heroes, teaching Mickey, Sora, and Riku the Keyblade skills needed to guard the universe from his former friend Xehanort's plan. A world based on the ''Fantasia'' version also appears throughout the series, serving as Yen Sid's home. The Magic: The Gathering playing card Sorcerer's Broom from Throne of Eldraine references the story and the replicating nature of the broom.


See also

* Sorcerer's Apprentice Syndrome * Sweet Porridge * The Master and his Pupil


References


Further reading

* * * Cosquin, Emmanuel.
Les Mongols et leur prétendu rôle dans la transmission des contes indiens vers l'Occident européen: étude de folk-lore comparé sur l'introduction du "Siddhikûr" et le conte du "Magicien et son apprenti"
'. Imprimerie nouvelle G. Clouzot, 1913. * * * *


External links

*
Volume 3 of Fowler's translations of Lucian
from Project Gutenberg
Modern English translation from 2013
by Katrin Gygax
The Sorcerer's Apprentice from Fantasia
(first part) an
second part
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sorcerers Apprentice, The 1797 poems Poetry by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Wizards in fiction ATU 300-399