Eta Hoffmann's "The Sandman"

Paper Summary:

This research examines E.T.A. Hoffmann's "The Sandman" with reference to elements that demonstrate the literary tradition of German Romanticism. The paper cites fantasy tales of E.T.A. Hoffmann as precursors of modern science fiction and fantasy tales.

From the Paper:

"In "The Sandman," the limits of perception are manifest by the disturbing psychology of the hero and the magic of mechanical wizardry. This confluence of elements extends beyond the text of the words into the realm of a pathological Romanticism transmuted into psychological horror. As Nathanael sees the world, horror has entered his life (Hoffmann 1). As he tells his story, the reader begins to suspect that Nathanael's perceptions are themselves suspect and that he is an unreliable narrator. And the reader becomes the perceiver of Nathanael's deeply flawed vision."

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