The Value of Fairy Tales Part 2
We’re back to the discussion of fairy tales. In my first blog about this subject, I ended with this statement: Fairy tales as we know them may not have a place in today’s society anymore.
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As I launched into my research, I arrogantly approached my examination by touting the premise that fairy tales may have, in fact, slipped into that realm of erudite study dominated by subjects like ancient languages – interesting but not very useful. I thought I was going to find research to support my theory. (Shameful flaunting of the scientific method!) After delving into this subject, while fascinating and ever so much fun, it’s obvious I don’t know what I’m talking about.
Before I get to that pie-in-the-face moment, however, I’m going to start with a little history. (And please bear in mind that I haven’t even managed to scratch the surface of this subject, so I hope you’ll grant me grace as I bumble my way through this.)
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Storytelling goes back millennia in every culture: before the invention of writing approximately 5000 years ago and long, long before the development of the printing press, wisdom was passed down orally from generation to generation.
One of the oldest forms of storytelling is the parable. While often religiously grounded, parables exist outside of religious writings and have been used to teach a concept or simplify a complex idea.
Fast forward several centuries to 600 BCE and we meet a Greek storyteller named Aesop, though his actual existence as one individual is not certain. His stories may come from many individuals who formed a “school.” One characteristic of these tales is their anthropomorphic nature and because of this they possess a cutsie-ness that has plopped them into the realm of being children’s stories. But in general, the fables addressed timeless themes and were originally intended for adults as ethical guides.
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About the same time, give or take a few centuries, we have the Jataka stories that originate from the Buddhist tradition and also served as ethical guides. Featuring animals, the narratives centered around Buddha’s 550 lives that paved his path to enlightenment and address morality, generosity, fairness, kindness, and bravery. Again, these were intended for adults.
Then we leap-frog to the European tradition. The Medieval years in Europe seem to have been uneventful for fairy tales until the 1500’s when, still targeting an aristocratic adult audience, they were surging in Italy and a hundred years later, in France. Most notable of these authors was Charles Perrault creator of the Mother Goose stories who is credited for spreading the seeds for the rebirth of the genre a couple of centuries later. Enter the Brothers Grimm, German academics, who began collecting oral stories and publishing them in the late 1700’s. They recognized the importance of recording the stories for future generations.
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It wasn’t until the 19th and 20th centuries that fairy tales began being adapted for youthful audiences starting with Hans Christian Andersen. Although Andersen was a poet, playwright, and novelist, he’s most famous for his children’s stories that embrace universal themes.
Okay! So that dash through history leaves me with the question: Do fairy tales still serve a purpose?
I’ve discovered that I think they do, and in my next blog I’ll tell you why I have changed my mind.
