Grimm is the family name of two German brothers, Jakob Ludwig Grimm (1785-1863) and Wilhelm Karl Grimm (1786-1859). They were scholars known for their collection of German fairy tales and for their work in establishing the German Dictionary. Jakob Grimm also became known for his great work, the German Grammar.
The Grimms were influenced by the German Romantic movement (see Romanticism ). Their chief area of research was German antiquity (olden times). Living in a time of cultural, political, and social change, they hoped that their studies might awaken national pride and purpose.
Jakob studied the historical development of literature, law, and language. His work is basic to the study of historical linguistics (the science of language). In his chief work, the German Grammar (1819-1837), he compared different Germanic and other European languages and stages of language development. One of the main results was the set of sound correspondences called Grimm’s Law. The law is basic to the later development of comparative linguistics (see Linguistics (Comparative and historical linguistics) ). Wilhelm was most directly responsible for editing the Fairy Tales (1812, 1815). He also wrote valuable introductions to medieval literature, which he edited.
The work of the brothers on the German Dictionary was a pioneer effort that has served as a model for later lexicographers (dictionary writers). The Grimms worked on it from 1838 until their deaths. It was finally completed by scholars in the mid-1900’s.
The Grimms were born in Hanau. Jakob was born on Jan. 4, 1785. Wilhelm was born on Feb. 24, 1786. They studied law at the University of Marburg and came into contact there and at Heidelberg with some of the leading Romanticists. They held several positions as librarians and professors in the 1820’s and 1830’s. In 1840, they became members of the Academy of Sciences in Berlin and received professorships at the University of Berlin. Jakob also served in several diplomatic positions during his life and was a member of the Parliament of Frankfurt in 1848. The brothers remained in Berlin until their deaths and lived and worked together nearly all their lives. Wilhelm died on Dec. 16, 1859, and Jakob died on Sept. 20, 1863.
