How did German Romanticism encourage the collection of folktales and children’s songs?

German Romanticism encouraged the collection of folktales and children’s songs by viewing folk traditions as a vital means of accessing preconscious modes of thought and preserving a rich national heritage. In the early 19th century, German Romantics sought to oppose French rationalism by emphasizing intuitive, emotional, and "natural" expressions of the human spirit.123

Key efforts in this movement included:

• Des Knaben Wunderhorn (1805–08): Edited by Achim von Arnim and Clemens Brentano, this collection of folk songs and verse retrieved Germany’s folk heritage and highlighted the perceived link between folk feeling and the child’s vision of the world.1
• Kinder- und Hausmärchen (1812–15): Assembled by the Brothers Grimm, this quasi-scholarly collection of folktales helped popularize stories that eventually became a fundamental part of the German child’s inheritance.124

By valuing these works as artistic expressions of the "voice of nature," the Romantics helped elevate folk literature, ensuring that these stories and songs became integral to childhood development and inspired generations of writers.12