1 page per question please and label the answers
question 1 Of the fairy tales by the Brothers Grimm you read for this week, which one do you think best represents the fairytale genre and why? Please note that there is not one secret right answer–you could write persuasively for any one of several of the tales. Make sure you have a clear understanding of the genre as discussed in Literature for Children. Your response should be at least three well developed paragraphs.
question 2.Read background material on Hans Christian Andersen on credible research sites you find on the internet. What are your impressions of the author? What are some of the important or influential events in his life? Your response should be at least two well developed paragraphs and be sure to cite your source(s). Do not use Wikipedia, Sparknotes, etc. as a source.
**(instructions from Professor)**As your read fairy tales by HCA, think about how his life may have affected his art.
Which fairytales have we read thus far that remind you of “The Wolf and the Seven Little Kids?” My guess is that the first one that comes to mind is “Little Red Riding Hood.”
Little Red Riding Hood walking through the woods.
Both stories deal with a menacing stranger—someone who poses a great danger because of a resemblance to someone in a position of trust. Or maybe you thought of “Snow White” where the evil queen dresses up as a helpful old woman. Either way the theme is the same: Beware of strangers.
Snow white poisoned apple
It’s important to see “The Wolf and the Seven Little Kids” in a larger context: there are so many examples of wolves in myths, legends and folklore. Not surprisingly they also have a role in fairytales. In some ancient cultures wolves were worshipped, in others they were greatly feared. In this tale we have a clear example of fear.
Note the ending of the story: What do you think of this instance of fairytale justice?
“Rapunzel”
Disney’s Tangled ‘Rapunzel’ Character
Many scholars think that “Rapunzel” is named after the German word for rampion—a European vegetable used in salads. The story is based on real-life conflict—psychological critics emphasize the overbearing mother figure in the mother-daughter relationship. There is also an important conflict between parental love and romantic love. This theme should remind you of “Beauty and the Beast.” So many of the fairytales deal with tensions in family relationships.
What do you make of the emphasis on Rapunzel’s hair? Do you think it is symbolic? Are there other symbolic images in the story?
“Hansel and Gretel”
Hansel and Gretel
There are many ways to view “Hansel and Gretel.” Scholars who take an historical approach link the story to repeated famines in early nineteenth-century Germany. They also connect the presence of so many stepmothers in fairytales in general to the number of young mothers who died, especially in childbirth.
Psychologically-oriented critics state that “Hansel and Gretel” is another story about appetite; in this case the story addresses appetite in the context of parent-child antagonism. As in other stories, we see that the mother figure is the villain. The father seems weak, the stepmother wants food and the witch wants to eat the children.
The fairytale shows how these children are able to overcome the dangerous situation they are in and ultimately survive. Note how the journey back is so different from the trip to the witch’s place. The duck appears (the birds again) to bring the children back to their father. Often in fairytales, crossing water is a sign of maturity—a type of initiation.
Look at all the details in this story very carefully—it is the springboard for Napoli’s The Magic Circle that we will be reading shortly. We will come back to this fairytale later.
“Aschenputtel”
“Aschenputtel” is the Brothers Grimm version of Cinderella story. The Grimm’s version provides many fascinating comparisons and contrasts with Perrault. I will limit my remarks since many of you may be writing about these tales for your first analytical paper. I look forward to your insights since studying the differences can be helpful for understanding both stories.
Certainly the heroines provide an interesting contrast as does the magical apparatus. Is there fairytale justice in both stories? If so, what kind? I’ll leave it to you to say.
“Mother Hulda”
Mother hulda image
In researching the beginnings of this story, you would find that while the exact origin of “Mother Hulda” is unknown. She is thought to be grounded in a pre-Christian heathen deity, perhaps from Norse mythology.
The mother-daughter relationship is once again on display in “Mother Hulda.” Here we have good daughters and bad daughters, good mothers and bad mothers.
In fairytales we have read, all have themes but some seem to have more overtly moral messages as does this one. Good triumphs over bad, the underdog can win.
It’s interesting to compare the use of magic in fairytales—some have a lot and some a negligible amount. Here we have talking apples and bread loaves. What do you think the role of magic should be? Do you like fairytales more if they have more magic in them?
Many of these fairytales we are reading this semester have been written about voluminously by literary critics, psychologists, anthropologists and folklorists. You could come back to any one of these fairytales, dig deep, and come up with a very thoughtful and interesting study. Keep this in mind as you progress in the course. I have included in this week’s module a lecture from one professor’s perspective on fairy tales. I hope you find it of interest.
To Do:
Read selected fairytales by the Brothers Grimm:
“The Wolf and Seven Little Kids,” “Rapunzel,” “Hansel and Gretel,” “ Aschenputtel,” “Mother Hulda”
Read selected fairytales of Hans Christian Andersen:
“The Ugly Duckling,” “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” “The Little Mermaid,” “The Princess and the Pea.”
As you think about the various tales, compare themes, approaches, intellectual ideas presented in the works of Perrault, Grimm, and Andersen.
All are available online.