History Literature / TheErlKing

-> ''Wer reitet so spät durch Nacht und Wind? Es ist der Vater mit seinem Kind.''
--> '''One of the most famous sentences in the German language.'''

The poem was set to music (for solo voice and piano) by FranzSchubert in 1815. In Germany in the 20th century the word "Erlkönig" came to denote a car prototype on a nightly Autobahn test drive (speeding, like the father in the ballad, "through night and wind" and fog) in an attempt to evade photojournalists.

[[quoteright:350:[[http://www.goethezeitportal.de/wissen/illustrationen/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/erlkoenig.html http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Erlkoenig_Plueddeman1876_4431.jpg]]]]

----

The poem was inspired by a Danish folk tale, which was translated to German as "Erlkönigs Tochter" ("Daughter of the Arlen King"). However ''Erlkönig'' is a mistranslation of the Danish "ellerkonge", which actually means "King of the elves" (that would be "Elfenkönig" in German, in case you wondered). It is possible that Goethe went with the "wrong" translation consciously, as the Erl-King does not fit in with what most people of the era would have recognized as an Elf-King; in the ballad, he seems to serve as a substitute to the GrimReaper or Death. The "rational" interpretation is that the boy is hallucinating from fever.

"Erlkönig" is one the most recognizable of Goethe's works for Germans, thanks to its time-honored status as an inevitable [[SchoolStudyMedia school study medium.]] So is Zhukovsky's adaptation (see below) for Russians.

The poem was set to music (for solo voice and piano) by FranzSchubert in 1815.

* Music/DoomMetal band Pagan Altar's "The Erl King" is an adaptation of the Goethe poem. Also, the Erl King is mentioned in "Armageddon" as being quite pleased with the [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt nuclear war that destroys humanity.]]

"Erlkönig" is one the most recognizable of Goethe's works for Germans, thanks to its time-honored status as an inevitable [[SchoolStudyMedia school study medium.]]

* ''Music/SarahBrightman'' - Her song''Figlio Perduto'' uses an Italian adaptation of this poem for lyrics.

* ''Music/SarahBrightman'' - Her song titled ''Figlio Perduto'' uses an Italian adaptation of this poem for lyrics.

* ''Music/SarahBrightman'' - Her song titled ''Figlio Perduto'' is uses an Italian adaptation of this poem for lyrics.

!! Some works that reference the "Erl-King":

* ''{{Webcomic/Roommates}}'' - Also has the Erlkönig as character, and a meta webcomic adaptation of the poem, which is his official backstory.

* ''{{Webcomic/Roommates}}'' - Also has the Erlkönig as character, and a MetaWebcomic adaptation of the poem, which is his official backstory.

[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Erlkoenig_Plueddeman1876_4431.jpg]]

'''"The Erl-King"''' or "The Alder King" ("Erlkönig" in German) is a [[GermanMedia German ballad]] written by [[Creator/JohannWolfgangVonGoethe Johann Wolfgang von Goethe]] in 1782.

'''"The Erl-King"''' or "The Alder King" ("Erlkönig" in German) is a [[GermanMedia German ballad]] written by [[JohannWolfgangVonGoethe Johann Wolfgang von Goethe]] in 1782.

The poem was set to music (for solo voice and piano) by Franz Schubert in 1815.

''The Erl-King'' or ''The Alder King'' (''Erlkönig'' in German) is a [[GermanMedia German ballad]] written by [[JohannWolfgangVonGoethe Johann Wolfgang von Goethe]] in 1782.

The poem was inspired by a Danish folk tale, which was translated to German as ''Erlkönigs Tochter'' (''Daughter of the Arlen King''). However ''Erlkönig'' is a mistranslation of the Danish "ellerkonge", which actually means "King of the elves" (that would be "Elfenkönig" in German, in case you wondered). It is possible that Goethe went with the "wrong" translation consciously, as the Erl-King does not fit in with what most people of the era would have recognized as an Elf-King; in the ballad, he seems to serve as a substitute to the GrimReaper or Death. The "rational" interpretation is that the boy is hallucinating from fever.

''Erlkönig'' is one the most recognizable of Goethe's works for Germans, thanks to its time-honored status as an inevitable [[SchoolStudyMedia school study medium.]]

For a literal translation of the ballad, visit the [[Synopsis/TheErlKing synopsis page.]] A rhyming translation (as ''The Alder King'') can be found [[http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Alder_King on Wikisource.]]

!! Erl King provides examples of the following tropes:

* MaybeMagicMaybeMundane: The poem does not answer the question, whether the Erl King is real or the boy`s fever dream. Goethe himself however ''did'' believe in preternatural beings.
* NotSoImaginaryFriend: Subverted: Not so ImaginaryEnemy

''The Erl-King'' or ''The Alder King'' (''Erlkönig'' in German) is a [[GermanMedia German ballad]] written by [[JohannWolfgangVonGoethe Johann Wolfgang von Goethe]].

* AccidentalNightmareFuel / TearJerker: YMMV on this

A literal translation of the poem:

->Who is riding, so late, through night and wind?
->It is the father with his child.
->He has the boy well in his arm
->He holds him safely, he keeps him warm.

->"My son, why do you hide your face so anxiously?"
->"Father, do you not see the Erl king?
->The Erl king with his crown and tail?"
->"My son, it's a wisp of fog."

->"You dear child, come, go with me!
->Very lovely games I'll play with you;
->Many colourful flowers are on the shore,
->My mother has many golden robes."

->"My father, my father, and don't you hear
->What Erl king quietly promises me?"
->"Be calm, stay calm, my child;
->The wind is rustling through withered leaves."

->"Do you want to come with me, pretty boy?
->My daughters shall wait on you finely;
->My daughters will lead the nightly dance,
->And rock and dance and sing you to sleep."

->"My father, my father, and don't you see there
->Erl king's daughters in the gloomy place?"
->"My son, my son, I see it clearly:
->There shimmer the old willows so grey."

->"I love you, your beautiful form entices me;
->And if you're not willing, then I'll use force."
->"My father, my father, he's grabbing me now!
->Erl king has done me some harm!"

->It horrifies the father; he swiftly rides on,
->He holds the moaning child in his arms,
->Reaches the yard with trouble and hardship;
->In his arms, the child was dead.

A rhyming translation (as ''The Alder King'') can be found [[http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Alder_King on Wikisource.]]

->And if you're not willing, then I need force."

''The Erl-King'' or ''The Alder King'' (''Erlkönig'' in German) is a [[GermanMedia German ballad]] written by [[JohannWolfgangVonGoethe Johann Wolfgang von Goethe]]. It tells the story of a father who is carrying his sick son and riding in a carriage. The son is convinced that he keeps seeing the [[TheFairFolk Erl-King who wants to abduct/kill him]], while the father keeps insisting that he doesn`t exist. The Erl king seems to serve as a substitute to the GrimReaper or Death. The poem was inspired by a Danish folk tale, which was known in Germany as "''Erlkönigs Tochter''" (''Daughter of the Arlen King''). However ''Erlkönig'' is a mistranslation of the Danish "ellerkonge", which actually means "King of the elves". (That would be "Elfenkönig" in German, in case you wondered.)

The literal translation of the poem:

''The Erl-King'' or ''The Alder King'' (''Erlkönig'' in German) is a [[GermanMedia German ballad]] written by [[JohannWolfgangVonGoethe Johann Wolfgang von Goethe]]. It tells the story of a father who is carrying his sick son and riding in a carriage. The son is convinced that he keeps seeing the [[TheFairFolk Erl King who wants to abduct/kill him]], while the father keeps insisting that he doesn`t exist. The Erl king seems to serve as a substitute to the GrimReaper or Death. The poem was inspired by a Danish folk tale, which was known in Germany as "''Erlkönigs Tochter''" (''Daughter of the Arlen King''). However ''Erlkönig'' is a mistranslation of the Danish "ellerkonge", which actually means "King of the elves". (That would be "Elfenkönig" in German, in case you wondered.)