THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE UNCANNY: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF FANTASTIC ELEMENTS IN E.T.A. HOFFMANN’S DER SANDMANN AND DER NUSSKNACKER UND DER MAUSEKÖNIG
Keywords:
Keywords: E.T.A. Hoffmann, The Uncanny (Das Unheimliche), German Romanticism, Serapiontic Principle, Automata, Narrative Ambiguity, Optical Metaphors, Dark Romanticism, Psychological Dualism, Liminality.Abstract
Abstract This article explores the dual nature of the "fantastic" in the works of
E.T.A. Hoffmann, specifically examining the transition between the psychological
horror of The Sandman and the whimsical, yet eerie, world of The Nutcracker and the
Mouse King. By analyzing Hoffmann’s "Serapiontic Principle"—the idea that the artist
must see the internal vision clearly before translating it to reality—this paper argues
that Hoffmann’s use of the fantastic is not merely escapism but a sophisticated critique
of Enlightenment rationalism.
References
1. Direct Quotes: Insert specific passages in German (with English translations)
from the Serapiontic Principle preface (Die Serapionsbrüder).
2. Freudian Analysis: Devote a full page to a deep dive into Freud’s essay Das
Unheimliche, specifically how he treats the "eye-envy" and "castration anxiety"
in The Sandman.
3. Detailed Comparison Table: Add a section comparing the "Night-Side of
Nature" (Nachtseite der Natur) as theorized by Gotthilf Heinrich von Schubert,
which heavily influenced Hoffmann.
