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The Erl-King
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Illustration of "The Lamb" from "Songs of Innocence" by William Blake, 1879. poem; poetry
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The Erl-King

work by Goethe
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Also known as: “Der Erlkönig”, “The Elf-King”
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Category: Arts & Culture
Also called:
The Elf-King
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The Erl-King, dramatic ballad by J.W. von Goethe, written in 1782 and published as Der Erlkönig. The poem is based on the Germanic legend of a malevolent elf who haunts the Black Forest, luring children to destruction. It was translated into English by Sir Walter Scott and set to music in a famous song by Franz Schubert. In the ballad a father and son are journeying homeward on horseback at night. The son is ill with a fever and believes he sees and hears the erl-king. The father tells him that the form he sees is only the fog and ...(100 of 209 words)

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