The Sorcerer's Apprentice

The Sorcerer's Apprentice

The Sorcerer's Apprentice is the English name of a poem by Goethe - Der Zauberlehrling, written in 1797.  The poem is a ballad in fourteen stanzas. Der Zauberlehrling is extremely well-known in the German-speaking world.

 

The poem begins as an 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 he is not yet fully trained in. The floor is soon awash with water, and the apprentice realizes that he cannot stop the broom because he does not know how.

Not knowing how to control the enchanted broom, the apprentice splits it in two with an axe, but each of the pieces becomes a new broom and takes up a pail and continues fetching water, now at twice the speed. When all seems lost, the old sorcerer returns, quickly breaks the spell and saves the day. The poem finishes with the old sorcerer's statement that powerful spirits should only be called by the master himself.

The acclaimed animated dialogue-free 1940 Disney film Fantasia popularized the story from Goethe's poem, and the Paul Dukas symphonic poem based on it, in one of eight animated shorts based on classical music. In the piece, which retains the title "The Sorcerer's Apprentice”. Mickey Mouse plays the apprentice, and the story follows Goethe's original closely, except that the sorcerer is angry with the apprentice when he finally returns and saves him. Fantasia popularized Goethe's story to a worldwide audience.

     

edit delete reply viera7 wrote on Apr 13, '10 simplyregina said wow, very cute story, Hello Regina...nice to see you again...I hope you are OK... Glad you like the story and Dukas composition...Hugs

delete reply simplyregina wrote on Apr 13, '10 wow, very cute story, I also remember the story from school. Very good combination with Dukas music. Thanks for sharing.

edit delete reply viera7 wrote on Apr 13, '10 firefysh said A terrific piece of music. Glad you like it as well Graham...my pleasure... Wish you a nice day...

edit delete reply viera7 wrote on Apr 13, '10 frankiex said I passed out at college with Distinctions... wow... congratulations...you've got lots of talent... Hugs and smiles...

delete reply firefysh wrote on Apr 13, '10 Ah yes, I remember it well. A terrific piece of music. Thanks for the memories, Viera. :-)

delete reply frankiex wrote on Apr 12, '10 viera7 said However it is always great to get back into the school days...:-) Wish I was back at school Viera....I loved School...Never did any homework...yet I passed out at college with Distinctions... Now I am off out to play..:):) HUGS XXX

edit delete reply viera7 wrote on Apr 12, '10 belita747 said with one exception... That's not another grey hair, LOL! I agree with you Belita , ladies have very seldom the grey hair...:-) Wishing you a wonderful evening...

edit delete reply viera7 wrote on Apr 12, '10 frankiex said You are taking me back to my school days.. It is my pleasure Franki...I like the music of Paul Dukas and one of eight animated shorts of Fantasia is based on this classical music...However it is always great to get back into the school days...:-)

delete reply belita747 wrote on Apr 12, '10 Oh Viera.... No need to comment. I would do t in the same way as Frankie did, with one exception... That's not another grey hair, LOL!

delete reply frankiex wrote on Apr 12, '10 Oh Virea ..You are taking me back to my school days...Remember doing this poem in English Lit.......Thanks for the memory Sweetheart..! Thats another grey hair..:):) Frank XXXX