Transcription
The Princess Bride
Onceupon a time
Fairy tales are part of the oral tradition of literature.What makes the fairy tale different fromfolklore, fables, and tall tales is its use ofmagic and fantasy.
The fairy tale is generally thelongest, most detailed of allfolktale types. Originate from the oral tradition Few fairy tales of most cultures concern ―fairies,‖ andthe name probably comes from the French ―contesdes fee,‖ French literary tales from the 17th centurythat do, in fact, feature fairies. Not originally written for children, fairy tales weremost likely stories told by adults for adults
The German term for fairy tale is ―Märchen,‖a term for which there is no exact Englishtranslation. Authors generally associated with fairy tales are Charles Perrault, theGrimm Brothers, and Hans Christian Anderson. Most of the tales that we read today have been ―sanitized‖ of their moregruesome and/or overtly sexual references. The Grimm Brothers, while removing most of the sex from their tales,did leave a good bit of the violence. The also helped fairytales to―migrate into the nursery in the 19th century‖ Most fairy tales, even theDisney versions remain violent.
Born in Paris, France in 1628Collected fairy tales andpublished Tales of MotherGoose in 1697Among the eight stories in thisbook are The Sleeping Beauty,Little Red Riding Hood, BlueBeard, and Cinderella.Died in 1703
In the early 19th century the Grimm brothers ofGermany traveled around the countryside collectingstories.Their 200 stories commonly called Grimm’s FairyTales have been translated into 70 languages.Fewer people know about the lives ofthe Grimm brothers and how theywent about the countryside listeningto folktales as told by those who hadheard them from their mothers andfathers.
The brothers were born in Germany.Jacob Ludwig Carl Grimm wasWilhelm Carl Grimmborn on Jan. 4, 1785.was born on Feb. 24, 1786.The brothers went to school determined to studylaw as their father had done.However, while attending school, Jacobbecame interested in the legends and bothdiscovered that they enjoyed folk poetry.Because of these interests, Wilhelmobtained a job in a library and Jacob joinedhim.
The brothersquiet, scholarlyJacoband the morefriendly, jovialWilhelmspent some 13 years collecting stories "from the lipsof people" of Hesse in middle Germany.The first volume of Nursery and HouseholdTales was published in Berlin in 1812A second volume was published in1815 and a third in 1822.
Sometimes there were several versions of the stories, andthese the Grimms combined into one.It must have been difficult to choose betweendifferent versions.Should Rumpelstiltskin ride around thefire in a ladle, or should he hop around iton one foot?Should a wolflive in the sugar housefound by Hansel andGretel?or a witch
The stories were kept alive by the German peasants ofthe time--the cowherd, the woodcutter, the wood-carver-who had no hope of rising above their positions in lifeWilhelm died on Dec. 16, 1859Jacob died on Sept. 20, 1863.
Tartar argues that the Grimm Brotherstransformed fairytales with their Nursery andHousehold Tales ―Once the Brothers Grimm started to collect the tales,they were transformed from entertainment for adults todiversion for children, and in some ways, also aneducational manual for children. Then the storiessuddenly developed an incredible moral backbone.‖
Another writer whose tales became universally popularwasHe was born April 2, 1805, on the island of Fyn, offthe coast of Denmark.He memorized and recited plays toanyone who would listen.To put an end to this, his mother apprenticed him firstto a weaver, then to a tobacconist, and finally to atailor.
Hans Christian knew these occupations were not forhim. The only things that held his interest were thetheater, books, and storiesWhen he was 14, he decided to go to Copenhagen, thecapital of Denmark, and seek his fortune.
Andersen's writings began to be published in Danishin 1829. His first works were poems, plays, novels,and impressions of his travels. He was slow todiscover that he especially excelled in explaining theessential character of children.In 1835 Andersen published FairyTales Told for Children.He published these short stories with littleappreciation of their worth and returned to thewriting of novels and poems. However, people whoread the stories--adults as well as children--wantedmore.
Andersen published 168 fairy tales in all."The real ones come of themselves," hesaid. "They knock at my forehead andsay, 'Here I am'."Although he never marriedand had no children of hisown, he was at his best as aninterpreter of the nature ofchildren.He died on Aug. 4, 1875.
Although these authors lived long ago and far tesGrimm Brothers--Germany.the appeal and popularity of the tales, continue to entertain usand we livehappily ever after.
Fairytales are generally women‘stales. Most fairy tales seem to originate aswomen‘s stories. Note the emphasis on the womencharacters—Name some of the womenheroines—Name the men The male authors who, like the Grimms,collected and edited the tales, also―masculinized‖ them.
The female versions tend to be more―fantastic‖ and ―nastier‖ than the oneswritten by the men. The original fairy tale tellers were women who passedon tales to the young. The tales often outlined social function and promotedthe ideas that virtue would be rewarded and adversitycould be overcome with the application of luck andwit.
According to Maria Tater ―Everyone wants to know where fairy talescame from in the first place. It is importantto keep in mind that there really are nooriginals, ideal types, sacred texts orglobal master narratives, so all we haveare copies, variants, deviant forms, andlocal narratives.‖
Tartar continues―[A] ―scene of origin‖ takes us into an adult culturewhere we have raconteurs telling racy, ribaldand violent stories to an adult audience. Theyare stories about the quest for power, wealth,romance—not necessarily in that order. Theyare also stories that speak to the anxieties anddesires of adults who are negotiating the path tomarriage, sorting out family conflicts and. . .‗rehearsing, preserving and transmittingcommunal value, beliefs, and prejudices.‘
Why are we so attracted to fairytales? Often involve ordinary people caught up inextraordinary circumstances. Language is generally simple, yetdignified. Tales use devices of structural andlinguistic repetition. Often use suspense and life/deathsituations
Fairy Tales characteristics cont‘d Other familiar stories and literaryconventions (myths, revenge tales,parables, etc.) also pervade fairy tales The ―types‖ appear again and again andcross-culturally.
Original Fairy Tales – 17 Min. 10 Original Fairy Tales
Jacob Ludwig Carl Grimm was born on Jan. 4, 1785. Wilhelm Carl Grimm was born on Feb. 24, 1786. The brothers went to school determined to study law as their father had done. However, while attending school, Jacob
