Final answer:
The Grimms collected stories such as Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella to preserve German culture, reflected in their work as philologists and in their compilation of a comprehensive German dictionary. Their efforts were motivated by a Romantic nationalist belief in the importance of a national spirit embodied in folk traditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The central idea that the Grimms collected stories to preserve culture is developed through several key details. First, the Brothers Grimm were both accomplished philologists and dedicated collectors of folklore, suggesting a professional interest in the cultural and linguistic heritage embedded within these tales. They published these stories in a definitive collection, indicating an effort to create a lasting record. Secondly, their project extended beyond merely collecting tales; they aimed to create a comprehensive German dictionary to capture the full breadth of the German language and its historical origins. Finally, the Grimms’ work was driven by the Romantic nationalist idea that nations had spirits and identities deeply reflected in their folklore, language, and traditions.
The Grimm brothers believed it was essential to capture and preserve the 'essence' of German culture through these stories before they were lost to the modernizing influences of the time. Their efforts in collecting folk tales like Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella, as well as their scholarly endeavors, notably the German dictionary project, were rooted in this goal. They sought to safeguard the stories that defined German cultural identity in a period when such tales were predominantly passed down orally and at risk of being forgotten.