When I was a teenager I read several of those books written by Karl May that are set in the "Wild West." I was very impressed, not only by the "Winnetou" trilogy but also because I knew Karl May never went there. - […] - Ever since then I have wondered about the accuracy and truth of his writings, which I now was given the chance to investigate by visiting a particular state, one he has also used for several of his plots, Arizona.
Before I crossed the ocean by plane on January 20, 2000, I knew I would be spending two weeks in Globe, Arizona, adjacent to the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation, and four weeks in Dragoon, Arizona, at the Amerind Foundation, the former to see how a special group of Native Americans is living today, the latter to view reference books. At both places I conducted a depth interview and compared my results to Karl May′s "Winnetou" trilogy, which I read once more. By doing so, I most of all wanted to find out how accurate Karl May describes the country, his characters, and their customs, but also how much exposure certain Americans had had to his works so far, and what their reactions would be to an extract of it, the "Winnetou" trilogy.
With these aims in mind, I conducted my research. I chose interesting passages from the aforementioned trilogy for both my questionnaire and interview questions, which I later asked the native speakers to fill out and answer. In order not to leave out historical research, I visited the Heard Museum in Phoenix, Arizona, and at the Amerind Foundation I surveyed at least ten reference books about Native American peoples, their history and culture.
As a result of this research my aims were well fulfilled: Firstly, there are certain topics I can disagree or agree with Karl May about, to various degrees. Secondly, I am more familiar with the exposure that the people I talked to had to Karl May before I stepped into their lives, and thirdly, I experienced their reactions to the events in the "Winnetou" trilogy. These results met my two expectations: one, Karl May was no historian, and two, his works should be promoted more aggressively in the American Southwest, if not the entire United States.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- RÉSUMÉ
- INTRODUCTION
- KARL MAY
- "WINNETOU"
- MAIN BODY
- INTERVIEWS
- HOLLIS COOK
- V. STEVENS, M.D.
- DR. ANNE WOOSLEY
- QUESTIONNAIRE
- KARL MAY VS. REFERENCE BOOKS
- APACHES: PAST AND PRESENT
- ANIMALS
- DIVISION OF LABOR
- INTSCHU-TSCHUNA AND WINNETOU
- Figure
- Funeral and Afterlife
- WINNETOU'S PUEBLO
- WINNETOU AND COCHISE
- CONCLUSION
- QUESTIONNAIRE
- GENERAL COMMENTS
- APPENDIX
- QUESTIONNAIRE
- WORKS CITED
- BOOKS
- AUTHOR
- EDITOR
- ENTRY IN AN ENCYCLOPEDIA OR DICTIONARY
- PERIODICALS
- MAGAZINE
- JOURNAL
- OTHER SOURCES
- LEAFLET
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This project aims to investigate the accuracy of Karl May's writings, specifically his "Winnetou" trilogy, by comparing them to real-life experiences in Arizona. The author conducted interviews and questionnaires with native speakers to determine the extent of their exposure to Karl May's works and their reactions to his depictions of Native American life. In addition, the author researched historical and cultural materials to provide a comprehensive understanding of the Apache people.
- Accuracy of Karl May's depictions of the American Southwest, especially the Apache people and their customs.
- Exposure and reaction of Americans to Karl May's works, specifically the "Winnetou" trilogy.
- Historical and cultural context of the Apache people.
- Comparison between Karl May's fictional accounts and actual historical and cultural information.
- Personal reflection on the author's experience and the impact of Karl May's writing.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: This section introduces Karl May, his life, and his writing, focusing on his imprisonment and his later career as a writer.
- Karl May: This chapter provides a biographical sketch of Karl May, highlighting his early life, his criminal past, and his eventual rise to fame as a writer.
- "Winnetou": This chapter focuses on the character of Winnetou and his role in Karl May's writings, including his origins and his evolution as a character.
- Interviews: This section features summaries of interviews conducted with individuals who have experience with the Apache people and/or with Karl May's works. The focus is on their personal experiences and perspectives.
- Questionnaire: This chapter provides a summary of the author's questionnaire, outlining the questions asked and the types of responses received.
- Karl May vs. Reference Books: This section compares Karl May's descriptions of the Apache people and their culture with information found in reference books. It examines the accuracy of his portrayal and highlights any discrepancies or inconsistencies.
- Apaches: Past and Present: This chapter provides an overview of the Apache people, their history, and their current situation. It examines their culture, customs, and traditions.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The primary focus of this project is on the works of Karl May, particularly his "Winnetou" trilogy, and their relation to the Apache people. Key themes include the accuracy of May's depictions, the cultural and historical context of the Apache, and the reception of his works in the American Southwest. The project also explores the impact of May's writing on individuals' perceptions and understanding of Native American culture.
- Quote paper
- Silke-Katrin Kunze (Author), 2001, Winnetou and the (Mescalero) Apaches, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/4285
