10th World Literature Mrs. Bragg
Fairy Tales & Archetypal Elements
Before you start, here are some things to consider about this familiar genre:
The history of the fairy tale is particularly difficult to trace because only the literary forms can survive. Originally these stories would have been told and passed down orally for generations. Still, the evidence of literary works at least indicates that fairy tales have existed for thousands of years; although, not perhaps recognized as a genre. Literary fairy tales are found over the centuries all over the world, and when they collected them, folklorists found fairy tales in every culture.
Once Upon a Time, fairy tales weren't even written for children. In spite of their name, the popular fairy tales usually have very little to do with fairies. We took the name from the French "contes des fee", and the French literary fairy tales of the 17th century do feature far more fairies than the tales which are best known today. Also, the Grimm brothers collected the folk tales of the German people to make up their volume, but fairy tales are more than just folk tales. The German term for them is "Märchen", a word for which there is no satisfactory English equivalent - it is the diminutive of Mär, a story or a tale, and has come to mean a story of wonder and enchantment, which the fairy tale is.
Although large numbers of literary fairy tales were written in 17th century France, most of the tales which are still told and retold now are far older in origin. Many of the stories were edited and changed as they were written down, removing the darker and more gruesome elements of the stories. The intended audience of the stories has also changed. Perrault's collection of tales was written to be presented at the court of Versailles, and each tale ended with a moralistic verse.
In 1634, a cycle of fifty tales was published by Giambattista Basile, in which can be found some of the earliest written versions of familiar stories like "Sleeping Beauty". Basile's tone is bawdy and comic; his narrators within the tale are old women, hags, crones and old gossips, the stereotypical tellers of the "old wives' tales".
The women who brought the literary fairy tale to popularity fifty years or so later were anything but "old wives". The story which marked the beginning of the form was written by the Countess d'Aulnoy, an aristocratic woman who tried to implicate her husband in a crime of high treason, but was discovered and managed to flee Paris. She had been married to the husband at the age of 15; he was 30 years her senior, and a gambler and libertine. The cruelty of enforced marriages is remarked on by the heroines of many of her stories, and the tales of other women of the time.
The Countess de Murat was banished from Louis XIV's court in Paris for publishing a political satire about him; she then shocked the people of Loches, where she had her chateau, by holding gatherings where she and her friends would dance, talk, and tell fairy tales. Her tales concern marriage, the power struggles of the aristocracy, and true love. They do not always have a happy ending.
Marie-Jeanne L' Heritier led a less controversial life. She did not marry, choosing to dedicate herself to writing. Her father was a historian and writer; her sister was a poet. She was also the niece of Charles Perrault, and quite likely was influenced by his fairy tales. Her "Adventures of Finette" features a heroine who wins by her wits, in spite of two lazy sisters and an evil prince.
In a time of political censorship, where women had few rights, fairy tales were one way that they could make their opinions known. The fairies themselves in the tales often stand for the aristocrats, having power over many but often caring little, bickering amongst themselves, concerned with their own power struggles. The heroines comment on the double-standards of the times, arranged marriages, and the false glory of war; the tales also illustrate the authors' ideas on the standards of correct manners, justice and love.
The tales were also perhaps written in opposition to the literary establishment at the time, which championed Classical literature as the standard for French writers to follow. Fairy tales were modeled on French folklore and the courtly love of Medieval literature. When Perrault joined them in writing fairy tales, he was taking a stand for the modern style and for women's tales (although his tales did not exactly feature unfettered females). The "Quarrel of the Ancients and the Moderns" was part of the society which the fairy tales rebelled against - for most women there was no choice over which side to take, as they weren't thought worth educating in Latin and Greek anyway. Instead of being forced out, they formed their own style.
Women's talk has been frightening and dangerous since even before the Church taught that Eve's words tempted Adam and led to the fall. The talk of women was seductive and wicked.
Fairy tales and their relatives (myth and folklore) have always been tied in with women's wisdom and power. The tellers of the tales were often the older women, passing on experience to the young, telling tales which outlined social functions and places, which saw the virtuous rewarded, and adversity overcome. While people worked at boring tasks, sewing and spinning, tales would be told. While the voices of the women were unheard politically, they were passing on knowledge to the young.
The best-known tales today are the ones collected by the Grimms and written by Perrault, changed to favor the charming Prince rather than the clever heroine. Even so, throughout the tales one can still find traces of messages concerning the lives the original tellers lived, from marriage to childbirth (their greatest killer for many years) to mother to step-mother to mother-in-law.
Spring Semester Research Paper World Literature 2016
Overview: You spent limitless hours as a child reading about your favorite heroes, damsels in distress, witches, villains, and many other elements to the stories you loved growing up. This paper is an opportunity to research and explore a fairy tale of your choice. You will delve into this story, its history, and the elements that make it a truly unique story.
Organization:
Introduction: Discuss fairy tales and their importance to children and society. What value do these stories hold? How have they withstood the test of time? Introduce your chosen fairy tale.
Body Paragraph 1: Discuss the researched history of this fairy tale. Who wrote it? What culture did this story derive from? What makes it particularly important to that group of people? What is the real message behind the pages and images?
Body Paragraph 2: For this paragraph, choose three specific archetypal elements from the story. Discuss the specific elements and how they are used within the fairy tale. Does the element have a greater meaning based on the time period and the story?
Body Paragraph 3: In this last paragraph, you will discuss the psychological value of the tale and its moral/theme. Can this tale shape and mold how we think or perceive the world around us? Can this story impact you and your peers as you move into adulthood-how so? What message does this fairy tale deliver?
Conclusion: Use this last paragraph to bring your research to a close. What have you learned as a result of this research? How is the story’s message relevant to you and your life?
Works Cited:*You will use, at minimum, 3 resources: article, web page (or book) for original story, and a book source. You must use, at minimum, two quotes to support your ideas in each of the body paragraphs. You will follow the formats given on the MLA Cheat Sheet to use in citing your sources.
Format: Your paper will be double spaced and will be typed in the computer lab at school. You will also use 12 point Times New Roman font, 3rd person pronouns, and you must use present tense verbs when referring to the literature.
For example: King Elias realizes that what he is doing as a leader is wrong.
NOT
King Elias realized that what he did as a leader was wrong.
Thursday (24th) / Friday (25th) / Monday (28th) / SLO (29th) / Wednesday (30th)1. Introduction to research.
2. What is this paper about and what tools am I going to use in completing this assignment? / Classroom: Research/Sources
HW:
Bring work cited page for resources. *You will sit down with me and show me the resources/WC page / Copy of resources for research DUE and WC page.
Media center: Continue work. / Classroom for SLO
*We will move to media center once everyone is done. / Media Center to work.
Thursday (31st) / Friday (1st)
Media Center to work. / Work on presentation portion of research assignment.
You want your essay to sing to me – not be just another essay I have to read. Below is a reminder of the characteristics of an A paper. After all, an A paper is your goal.
A+ (100)
· The exceptional written product— fresh, sophisticated, marked with stylistic finesse.
A (90-99)
· Excellent use of thoughtfully chosen, apt, and specific concrete details and references to the text.
· Expresses originality of thought beyond the bounds of class readings and discussions, if appropriate.
· Response to the prompt or topic is cogent, convincing, insightful, and perceptive.
· Commentary and interpretation is free of plot summary and expressed with clarity and finesse.
· Skillfully addresses the “what,” the “how,” and the “why” in the prompt.
· Well organized with careful development; logically ordered with seamless transitions
· Effective introduction; excellent thesis; memorable conclusion
· Fluent with pleasing sentence variety; sound sentence structure (avoiding run-ons, commas splices, and unintentional fragments); precise, fresh diction. Uses the literary present, third person (if necessary) and few “to be” verbs.
· Virtually no errors in conventions such as spelling, grammar, usage, and mechanics.
Final words: Remember that I am always encouraging you to be a problem-solver. Come see me any time before or after school if you are having problems. Be a self-advocate – do not wait for me to discover you are having trouble – come to me first!