Far from Harmless Childrens Stories

1808 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Fairy tales analyse

Passed down orally from generation to generation, fairy tales have been produced throughout history. They tell stories of witches, demons, creatures, dragons, and ultimately good vs. evil. Yet, delving into the real meaning behind fairy tales sheds light into motives of the lower class. For as long as there have been classes, the upper class has been taking advantage of the lower class. The lower class tries to earn freedom and equality throughout history. Fairy tales offered the lower class with a market for spreading these ideas. Rather than being a way for the upper class to spread the ideas of the elite, the fairy tale offered the lower class the opportunity to criticize the upper class while arguing for more independence and opportunities. Fairy tales drew on the political and historical events of the time period to discuss the grievances of the lower class. Fairy tales gave the lower class an opportunity to put forth their ideas about equality and freedom. Since fairy tales were not politically neutral they created overwhelming conflict between the lower and upper classes. Fairy tales are far from bed-time stories, rather they stem from the political and social needs of the lower class over the course of history. History is always changing, whether it is the lower classes overthrowing the upper classes or the upper classes imposing their control on other cultures. Over the course of history the views of the upper class constantly clash with the lower class. A way for the lower class to respond to the upper class is through fairy tales and folk tales. Antonson 2 As major historical events produced new eras, so did folk tales evolve with time. Jack Zipes in Breaking the Magic Spell believes that in order to fully understan... ... middle of paper ... ..., it is possible to discover a new meaning to the “harmless” children stories. Works Cited Baum, Frank. The Wizard of Oz. Chicago: 1900. Print. Joosen, Vanessa. “Disenchanting the fairy tale: retellings of ‘Snow White’ between magic and realism.” Marvels & Tales 21.2 (2007): 228+. Literature Resource Center. Web. 22 Mar. 2010. Yolen, Jane. “From Anderson on: Fairy Tales tell our lives.” Marvels & Tales 20.2 (2006): 238+ Literature Resources from Gale. Web. 12 Feb. 2010 Ziegenhals, Gretchen E The Christian Century; July 19, 1989; 106, 22; ProQuest Direct Complete pg.693 Zipes, Jack. “Breaking the Magic Spells: Politics and Fairy Tales. “New German Critiques (Autumn 1975): 116-135. Rpt. in Literature Criticism from 1400 to 1800. Ed. Thomas J. Schoenberg and Lawrence J. Trudeau. Vol. 171. Detroit Gale, 2010. Literature Resources from Gale. Web. 11. 2010

Show More
Related

  • Identifying The Day We Were Dogs

    1006 Words  | 3 Pages

    Theim, Jon. "The Textualization of the Reader in Magical Realist Fiction." Magical Realism: Theory, History, Community. Ed. Lois Parkinson Zamora and Wendy B. Faris. Durham; N.C.: Duke UP, 1995. 235-247.

    Read More

  • Folklore, Women's Issues, and Morals in Toni Morrison's Sula

    1347 Words  | 3 Pages

    Folktales are a type of oral prose that is passed from one person to another. Listeners may chose to add or subtract from the main story lines, embellishing with experiences and wisdom from their own lives. It then takes on the collective morals, or conscienceness, of that culture. From those individuals who we normally would not consider cultured, great gems of knowledge and wisdom are passed down through folktales. This is done without the traditional use of written language or use of proper organizational style. Yet these oral traditions are not without power; they reach into the very heart of what it is to be human.

    Read More

  • The Corruption and Redemption of Edmund Pevensie in The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe

    987 Words  | 2 Pages

    Bettelheim, Bruno. The Uses of Enchantment: The Meaning and Importance of Fairy Tales. New York: Vintage, 2010. Print.

    Read More

  • Lust, Loss, and Immorality in the Little Mermaid

    1877 Words  | 4 Pages

    Cashdan, Sheldon. The Witch Must Die: The Hidden Meaning of Fairy Tales. New York: Basic Books, 1999.

    Read More

  • The Dynamic and Ever-changing Hansel and Gretel

    1797 Words  | 4 Pages

    Most fairy-tale aficionados have a static view of their favorite stories. That is, indeed, part of the glory which these tales hold…the fact that they are timeless, forever remaining fond memories of unforgettable stories that had been repeated to them from a young age. In both the oral and written traditions, these stories perpetuated themselves and became fixtures upon the cultures of which they have taken hold. For most people, the idea of these classics ever having been different not only seems odd, but also shakes the foundations of their childhood memories.

    Read More

  • The Little Mermaid: Hans Christian Andersen vs Walt Disney

    2433 Words  | 5 Pages

    Tatar, Maria. Off with Their Heads!: Fairy Tales and the Culture of Childhood. Princeton, NJ: Princeton UP, 1992. Print.

    Read More

  • Brothers Grimm's Fairy Tales History

    1747 Words  | 4 Pages

    Opportunities struck me when my teacher, Mr. Boardman gave his class time to touch the history of their chosen genre. I knew exactly what I wanted to search to build on fairy tales. I started by digging ...

    Read More

  • Gender Stereotypes in Fairy Tales

    1317 Words  | 3 Pages

    Fairy Tales have been around for generations and generations. Our parents have told us these stories and we will eventually pass them down to ours. In this time of age the most common fairytales are Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Beauty and The Beast and many more. Children idolize their favorite character and pretend to be them by mimicking everything they do in the stories. The character’s behavior is what is viewed as appropriate in society. These fairy tales show a girl and a boy fall in love and live “happily ever after”. The tales in many people’s eyes resemble a dream life that they would want to have of their own. However, have you ever really looked at what makes up a fairy tale? Many things are unrealistic but the most unflattering aspect of these tales is how women are depicted in them. Fairy tales give an unrealistic view to how women should look and behave in real life.

    Read More

  • definition paper

    622 Words  | 2 Pages

    Unlike any other form of literature or entertainment, Fairy Tales help children to discover their identity and suggest experiences needed to develop their character. In Bruno Bettelheim’s “Life Divined from the Inside” Bettelheim states that “Fairy Tales intimate that a rewarding, good life is within one’s reach despite adversity-but only if one does not shy away from the hazardous struggles without which one can never achieve true identity (Bettelheim 106). Anne Sexton’s “Cinderella” is a perfect example of Bettelheim’s definition of a Fairy Tale.

    Read More

  • Social Role Of Fairy Tales In The Brothers Grimm

    904 Words  | 2 Pages

    The social role of fairy tales during the time of the Brothers Grimm was to amuse and communicate morals to a wide audience. The Grimms’ were innovative in the way that they created fairy tales, as well as delivered them. The Brothers Grimm did not write the fairy tales themselves, but rather collected folk stories from citizens of nearby towns and cities in Europe. The people who contributed stories were both upper and lower class. The people came from diverse cultures as well as different genders and ages. Because of this, many of these stories have deep roots in European heritage. (Zipes Legacies 5) The Brothers collected the folk stories and produced many volumes of fairy tale books. The fairy tales in these books proved to be very educational to not only children but rather they taught morals to all people who read them. There are many examples of fairy tales from the Brothers Grimm with morals that would have resonated with the people in the 1800’s (Joosen). However, there is some controversy as to whether the Brothers Grimm changed the historic stories that they collected, therefore giving them a different social role

    Read More

  • An Analysis of Fairy Tales

    1670 Words  | 4 Pages

    Sagas about princes and princesses, beauty, magic, and love, fairy tales like Snow White and Cinderella, among others, have become children’s favorite bedtime stories. However, as parents tuck their sons and daughters in, they fail to realize that there is a much more daunting purpose to these stories. American writer and poet, Jane Yolen suggests that fairy tales indicate life values. Furthermore, Yolen insists that these tales are “thumbprints of history” (Yolen 27). Studying fairy tales in depth, she proves that the “functions of myths” consist of “creating a landscape of allusion [and] enabling us to understand our own and our culture from the inside out” (Yolen 18).

    Read More

  • The Importance Of Fairy Tales

    1775 Words  | 4 Pages

    Fairy tales are one of many ways to teach young children how to behave when they grow up. It teaches them to follow their dreams and express themselves. Fairy tales affect children's developing brains in the strangest ways. They inspire children to be and act like heroes. The options are endless. Children can be anything they want to be. Little girls can be beautiful princesses and little boys can be fearless princes. Imaginations run wild. The entire world is in their hands. But as they run away with their imaginations of magnificent lions and legendary wizards, their innocence diminishes because of the brutality displayed. The reality is that fairy tales aren't as sweet as we think they are. For this reason, parents are doubtful about reading fairy tales to their children. As society shift towards a era of fairy tales...

    Read More

  • The Importance of Fairytales

    1612 Words  | 4 Pages

    I am writing this paper because I was assigned to write it as a class project. Along the way I realized the importance of sharing the real meanings of all these stories. Stories are important because in the society we live in things are constantly changing. Fairytales change but the base of the story always remain the same no matter how many times it has been retold. It’s important to reveal the true meanings of these stories, even with its dark characteristics, because the world is dark .Children need to know that there are people that have told stories relatable to what they are going through. Fairytales help the development of children; it helps their maturity as they confront someone else’s tough situations, instilling hope of a more positive ou...

    Read More

  • Folk tale Genre

    876 Words  | 2 Pages

    Fairy tales appeared in the world a long time ago. Every culture has it is own variety of these stories. Although, fairy tales differ because of places, cultures, and periods their unique impact on teaching and entertaining of people has not been changed. Every class of people, in all parts of the world, has passed down this great tradition for generations, giving it popularity. Some scholars have studied reasons of why fairy tales still exist and continue to be told everywhere. They state that "stories may differ in subject from place to place, the conditions and purposes of tale telling may change as we move from land to land, from century to century, and yet everywhere it ministers to the same basic social and individual needs (15-18)".

    Read More

  • On Fairy Stories

    393 Words  | 1 Pages

    “On Fairy Stories” is a literary form essay written, by J.R.R. Tolkien, in 1947, to inform his readers that fairy stories are not only for children, but fairy stories are also for adults to enjoy and able to read. Tolkien believes that fairy-stories should be a genre for all ages with distinctive endings pertaining to their age group. Tolkien argues his personal view about fairy stories by paving the way with answering three inquires of his own, and also giving the an understanding of his own idealism.

    Read More

More about Far from Harmless Childrens Stories

Open Document