We all recall the fairy tales that entranced us when we were young… and maybe still do. Before they were called “fairy tales,” they were folk tales. Where do fairy tales come from? What makes a story a “fairy tale?” How are they related to myths, if they are?
In our freshmen seminar and on this site, we will explore how fairy and folk tales captivate our imaginations, their history, their meaning and the many ways that scholars have attempted to “tame” them and unpack their influence on us. Welcome!
What fascinates you most about these kinds of tales?
Hey, here is a comment to my own post as a sample.
What I find most fascinating is that they address issues and ideas that we care about today, even if they are set in a place “long ago and far away.”
What I find most fascinating is how different varieties of fairy/folk tales adapt to different cultures and historical contexts to reflect the attitudes and values of a given society.