The Importance Of Fairy Tales

In her book, Interpretation of Fairy Tales, Marie-Louise von Franz says that myths and fairy tales "mirror the basic structure of the psyche" (p. 2). Hence fairy tales are dramatic representations of basic psychological processes. ‘Does "Hansel and Gretel" perhaps address a child's real anxieties about starvation, abandonment, and being devoured by enacting a drama in which children are perpetually at risk but eventually delivered from want and deprivation?’ (Von Franz, 1970, 68). These fairy tales are loaded with adventures with heavy symbolism to reveal more meanings as we mature and develop a deeper awareness of ourselves. Bedtime stories have enormous influence over our identities. People identify with certain characters in the stories they heard in childhood. For example a child could relate to the characters of Hansel and Gretel when they may have felt alone in some point of their lives. To some degree, many live out these stories, largely unaware of how much the old tales may be shaping our

In general the modern treatment of fairy tales tends to be revision and simplification of archaic themes expressed in previous society. As a clarification, contemporary western society makes a habit of taking historic fairy tales and molding them to current values. This idea appears in Lydialyle Gibson’s article for The University of Chicago Magazine “How Fairy Tales lost their magic.” In the article Gibson explains that over centuries and variation in societal values, “Only because times and audiences have changed… fairy tales themselves have lost resonance” (Gibson). She believes that the adaptation of fairy tales for a specific audience has been detrimental

Fairy Tales are not just stories that parents tell to their children, but stories with hidden valuable messages which are mostly left on a side. In the article “An Introduction to Fairy Tales,” Maria Tatar clearly explains how people need fairy tales in their lives. Tatar also states how fairy tales have the ability to take the listener, especially children’s, into a journey in which they can play with their imagination so that they can discover their deepest fears and wishes. Personally I agree with the author, because of the fact that in an individual’s lives as they get older, they will try to define themselves, sometimes comparing their own life with a character from their favorite story or Fairy Tale.

Fairy tales function to entertain, inspire, enlighten, and in some cases condition our beliefs and behavior by teaching a lesson or having a theme. As literature progresses and becomes more modernized, most authors still follow this general concept for newer versions. However, contemporary authors create diversions from the classic tales by making them more intriguing and interesting. Even though the plots are fairly similar, some of the retold versions critique and reformulate the themes and messages. This is significant because it shows how each author

In the article “Grim Variations from Fairy Tales to Modern Anti-Fairy Tales”, the author Wolfgang Mieder identifies that fairy tales has a quite significant value in people’s life. The author argues that fairy tales are not only just meant for children, but they are also meant for adults, even though fairy tales may be refer to as children stories, according to scholars these tales are traditional narratives for adults. Within these tales there are lessons on how people should behave and other aspect of life, which only adults can understand. The fairy tales contain the hidden frustrations of adults and their longing for a perfect world. Mieder present the readers with examples of why these tales are also for adults and the hidden meaning they have within them. Mieder states “fairy tales present the world in black and white, but in the end of this conflict is resolved (Mieder 91)” and the belief that there is always good in humanity and the longing for a utopia plays a significant role for adults. The concept of hope for fairness and equality allows these tales to last for centuries among children and adults. Mieder then states many adults today do not accept the value of the benefits that these tales contain, and are too focus by real-life problems. The adults of today’s society are realist and do not see the good meaning behind these tales, deeming them to be far-fetched, unlike the adults in the past who create these stories as a form of escape from the cruel reality.

In our society today, fairy tales are full of magic, tiaras, ball gowns, and Prince Charmings, which serve as entertainment for their audience. Bruno Bettelheim, one of the most renowned psychologists and fairy tale experts of his time, proposes that fairy tales are therapeutic tools for children. However, the essay “Why Fairy Tales Matter: The Performative and the Transformative” by Maria Tatar proposes a different view, one deeper than therapeutic realms. She believes that children must read fairy tales because it is their gateway to the land of curiosity and imagination. Through these fairy tales, children are motivated to use the power of language to communicate and effect change throughout their lives. Tatar provides numerous proofs to support her claims, however the contradictory logic and substandard quality of evidence makes her readers question if reading fairy tales is truly essential for children.

The article “Grim Variations from Fairy Tales to Modern Anti-Fairy Tales”, the author Wolfgang Mieder identifies fairy tales plays a significant value in people’s life. The article argue that fairy tales are not only just for children, but they are also for adults, even though fairy tales may be refer to as children stories. According to scholars, these tales are traditional narratives for adults. Within these tales there are lessons on how people should behave and other aspect of life, which only adults can comprehend. Fairy tales conceal the hidden frustrations of adults and their longing for a utopian world. This article provide the readers with points on why these tales are also for adults and the hidden meaning they have within them. “Fairy tales present the world in black and white, but in the end of this conflict is resolved (Mieder 91)” and this belief there is always kindness within humanity and the longing for a utopia plays a significant role for adults. The concept of hope for fairness and equality allows these tales to outlast the passage of time among children and adults. Mieder states adults today will not accept the value of the benefits these tales contain, and they are too focus by real-life problems. The adults of today’s society are realist and will not notice the good-natured meaning behind these tales, deeming them to be far-fetched, unlike the adults in the past who create these stories as a form of escape from their cruel reality. These

They have been with us since were old enough to be read to or told a story. When we were young they brought us entertainment and often instilled within us the foundations of what would later become the structures of our morals and character. They are fairy tales and though it may be implied that we are meant to grow out of them, many people find it comforting to return to them throughout their lives. Many of the great authors of our time and the past have found fairy tales to be a great source of material. Their views on fairy tales can be contradicting, however, with many of them expressing a disillusionment with the typical “fairy tale” ending and at the same time latching to these stories for the comfort they found in their

For as long as humankind has been around, stories of folklore have been passed down from generation to generation. In order to teach children a lesson in an interesting way, people began fabricating stories filled with adventure, royalty, and villains. As the invention of novels started to become more popular, so did these elaborate stories. In time, the wild fables once reserved for a number of countries now existed all over the world. This is how fairy tales came to be. A fairytale is a fictional tale that centers around a hero on a mission filled with out of this world elements such as magic, royalty, and adventure. For years, children were entertained by the charming storybook elements that fairy tales

The reason why I’m writing this is because as humans we love to tell stories. Fairy Tales are among the top told stories of them all. They are happy stories that we as humans and/or children have fed off of for years. Without these stories we wouldn't have many of the TV shows, movies and even music

Fairytales are classic tales known throughout many generations and cultures. Dating back to the 1600’s fairytales were told and are still be adapted today. While fairytales are simplified for children to grasp, their underlying body is complex. With subtly changes to help fit more accurately in certain time periods and with the cultural relativism, whether good or bad, fairytales are a never dying being.

As children, we watched endless movies, read thousands of books and heard an excruciating number of stories about; princesses, knights, dwarfs, magic, and evil witches. Fondly we took these stories to heart as moral lessons for our future. Not once did we question the imagination or the duality of these bedtime stories. We laid our heads down at night not knowing we fool-heartedly believed in a changed truth. As youth we were bottle fed a much sweater version of our favorite fairy tales, these spoons full of sugar made stories easier to comprehend and much more appropriate for our ever-growing minds. What not only our parents, but the authors and story tellers failed to do, was prepare us for how real the original stories would turn out to be. Fairytales in their true, unaltered states allow us to see just how realistic and relatable some of these stories are in today’s society and the morals and lessons taught by these fairy tales are extremely applicable to everyday life.

Fairy tales are important due to the ability to enhance a child’s imagination and artistic intellect. On a deeper note, however, they allow for the development of critical thinking skills, which, in turn, allow for children to make logical decisions based on the choices that the characters make within the tale. They see the actions that the characters engage in and, as a result, the consequences that follow, which allows them to analyze what happened and why. In “Cinderella,” “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” and “Hansel and Grethel,” through the various obstacles that Cinderella faces to be with the prince and her interaction with her step-sisters, the Queen’s false intentions towards Snow White and her

Some scholars believe that as soon as humans were able to speak, they might have already formulated their own version of fairy tales in their story telling (Evolution of Storytelling and Fairly Tales, n.d.). Apparently, fairy tales are deeply embedded in human culture that it can be found even in the earliest writings of the Aryans and the Hindus (Bunce, 1878). The early Greeks’ Iliad and Odyssey as well as the early Anglo-Saxons’ Beowulf are just a few examples of folk tales that have been told until today. Although these stories are not meant for children, these folk tales laid the foundations of today’s modern fairy tales (Anderson, 2006). Most likely, every culture has their own version of fairy tale, which could have evolved from the folk tales of their ancient pasts. Modern fairy tales combines the elements of fables and fantasy in order to instruct moral values. Among the most common are Snow White, Cinderella, Beauty and the Beasts, The Frog Prince, Pinocchio and many other fairy tales of such genre, which highlights moral values such as goodness, loyalty and honesty. On the other hand, some modern fairy tales such as Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland are purely entertaining without the need for moral emphasis (Anderson,

Not all fairy tales are created equal, and not all of them are chockablock with pretty princesses, brave knights, evil witches and mean goblins. Read them with an open mind, and you'll see that fairy tales are fascinating tools to teach values and critical thinking to your children.