In my opinion, fairy tales are important because they open children’s imaginations. Similar to what Tatar discussed, these fantasy worlds allow one to think outside of the box; outside of the confines of reality and imagine various “what if” scenarios. Additionally, fairytales break down real, complex topics into simpler, digestible material that can be understood by a child. For example, “Little Red Riding Hood” could be interpreted as conveying a message of being wary of strangers without being overtly disturbing.
Darnton helped me better understand the importance of fairytales from one of many historical perspectives. Particularly, the importance of examining fairy tales from an anthropological perspective to gain a better understanding of the tale as a whole; such as how it evolved over time, what alterations were made by different cultures and what these changes imply about said culture. Additionally, Darnton emphasized the importance of knowing which version is being analyzed to properly understand the story’s original function and messages.
There were many aspects of the evolution of fairytales, especially in regards to history, that surprised me. For starters, how these stories that are now commonly associated with and labelled as “just for children” were at one point considered a privilege meant for the wealthy. Moreover, I found it interesting that there is a “gap” from a historian’s perspective as there were no documented accounts of the lives of peasants, yet many of these stories involve a protagonist of low status and conflicts rooted in struggles peasants often faced (ie: starvation).
I initially took this course as I was interested in learning about how the modern retellings that myself and others view as the “standard” version differ from their source material. However, throughout the course I found myself most interested in identifying recurring themes and tropes present in these stories. Examples include the prevalence of beauty, conflict between good vs evil, the role of nature, marriage being a resolution, dynamics between families, and the role of gender.
While it was important to overview the theorists and their philosophies to better understand fairy tales, I wish that there was more time in the course dedicated to reading the tales themselves. There were many others, such as Vasilisa the Fair and West of the Sun East of the Moon, that I wanted to analyze and discuss in class. Additionally, I enjoyed examining the alternative versions of “Little Red Riding Hood” and would have liked if we had done something similar for the other tales.
