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Origin of name of stock comic character
I am trying to trace the origin of the name of a stock comic character from the Italian Renaissance's Commedia dell' arte. The character's name was Harlequin. I understand the character's name had its roots in German Medieval Mythology, and that it sounded something like "Herlequin" or "Herlikin," and that it was the name of some kind of goblin or something which rode a horse through Medieval Germany's Black Forest. I would like you to give me the Germanic background on this "Herlikin" (or "Herlequin"), if at all possible.
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Origin of name of stock comic character  ·  R. B.  ·  3/23/2002, 3:38 PM
Re: Origin of name of stock comic character  ·  Pavlos  ·  3/23/2002, 4:35 PM
Not to mention Goethe's poem:  ·  Nanaea  ·  3/23/2002, 6:14 PM