Mrs. LaRubio Information for this slide show is paraphrased from the following article unless otherwise cited: Tatar, Maria. Ed. “Introduction.” The Classic.

Mrs. LaRubioInformation for this slide show is paraphrased from the

following article unless otherwise cited:Tatar, Maria. Ed. “Introduction.” The Classic Fairy Tales. New

York: Norton, 1999. ix-xviii.

A term used to describe universal symbols that evoke deep and sometimes unconscious responses in a reader. In literature, characters, images, and themes that symbolically embody universal meanings and basic human experiences, regardless of when or where they live, are considered archetypes. Common literary archetypes include stories of quests, initiations, scapegoats, descents to the underworld, and ascents to heaven.

http://www.bedfordstmartins.com/literature/bedlit/glossary_a.htm

Fairy tales are universal the world over Believed they are a part of the “collective

unconscious” Essential story is the same, though setting,

hero/heroine name, the character qualities, practically every aspect of the story is subject to change based on the geographic and cultural influences of those telling the tale

However, there are some things that stay the same…

Fairy tales follow a basic plot structure of episodes which are constant despite cultural differences

For example, “Beauty and the Beast” follows the following basic structure The monster as husband Disenchantment of the monster Loss of the husband Search for the husband Recovery of the husband

Discovery of the tale type can help analyze the text for deeper literary meaning.

For further examples of tale types, consult the list of Folklore and Mythology Electronic Texts available at: http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/folktexts.html

Oral tradition Told BY women in a domestic setting TO

children to teach cultural expectations and norms; children learn how to behave/follow social standards

Because the people who tell the tales are women—those who were traditionally subjugated by the patriarchy (the male-dominated social structure), the tales were not originally thought to have literary merit

Though it took time, fairy tales eventually became recognized for both literary merit and practical use:

The Grimm brothers “recognized that fairy tales were far from culturally innocent, for they extolled the “civilizing” power of the tales and conceived of their collection as a ‘manual of manners’ for children,” (xi).

Charles Dickens stated, “It would be hard to estimate the amount of gentleness and mercy that has made its way among us through these slight channels. Forbearance, courtesy, consideration for the poor and aged, kind treatment of animals, the love of nature, abhorrence of tyranny and brute force—many such good things have been first nourished in the child’s heart by this powerful aid,” (xii).

Fairy tales shape “our values, moral codes, and aspirations,” (xii).

There is the belief that fairy tales “can both shape our way of experiencing the world and endow us with the power to restructure our lives,” (xii).

By revisiting tales and reinterpreting them—coming up with new versions of the tales—we can, essentially, introduce dialogues and ideas not previously embraced by societies

Gives historical perspective of how women “struggled, succeeded, and also sometimes failed in their challenges of everyday life,” (xv).

REINFORCE GENDER STEREOTYPES

Promote “typical” feminine roles

Women are in domestic roles

Women tend to be victimized, “rescue “, sexualized

EMPOWER GENDER ROLES

Female and male heroes

Female and male villains

Women have just as much intelligence, stamina, and power as men

CLASSICAL CANON RIVAL TRADITION

Tales collected from folklore, originally told by local women

Collected by: Charles Perrault (France), Grimm Brothers (Germany), Alexander Afanasev (Russia)

Tales we know and heard when we grew up

Sociologists, folklorists, archeologists examine fairy tales looking for forgotten and subversive elements of our “collective past”

Contest premises, interrogating plots, reinventing conclusions (xvi)

Gives authors potential to REINVENT the tales over and offer new perspectives on concepts such as female roles in society, socioeconomic structures, and social hierarchy

Grimm’s Fairy Taleshttp://www.grimmfairytales.com/en/mainCharles Perrault’s Mother Goose Tales:http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/perrault.htmlThe American Folklore Society:

http://afsnet.org/The Cinderella Bibliography:http://www.lib.rochester.edu/camelot/cinder/cinintr.htmThe Snow White Bibliography:http://comminfo.rutgers.edu/professional-development/childlit/

snowwhite.htmlThe Trickster’s Way:http://www.trinity.edu/org/tricksters/TrixWay/