Comments on: Exploring Fairy Tales Part I http://wowlit.org/blog/2009/09/07/exploring-fairy-tales-part-i/ International Collection of Children's and Adolescent Literature Thu, 10 May 2012 01:00:31 +0000 hourly 1 By: Marilyn Carpenter http://wowlit.org/blog/2009/09/07/exploring-fairy-tales-part-i/comment-page-1/#comment-8075 Marilyn Carpenter Thu, 10 Sep 2009 01:58:11 +0000 http://wowlit.org/blog/?p=169#comment-8075 James, I think these versions have a place in the classroom. However, I know teachers are sometimes reluctant to share such stories. The tales I mentioned, Snow White and Cinderella are not for young children. I have shared them with children 5th grade and up. Just as Janine mentioned there is a satisfaction in seeing evil get its due. Who is reading these stories and what is the response of your students? Can they be compared with the violence in video games and on T.V.? How? James,
I think these versions have a place in the classroom. However, I know teachers are sometimes reluctant to share such stories. The tales I mentioned, Snow White and Cinderella are not for young children. I have shared them with children 5th grade and up. Just as Janine mentioned there is a satisfaction in seeing evil get its due. Who is reading these stories and what is the response of your students? Can they be compared with the violence in video games and on T.V.? How?

]]> By: James Russell http://wowlit.org/blog/2009/09/07/exploring-fairy-tales-part-i/comment-page-1/#comment-8074 James Russell Thu, 10 Sep 2009 01:39:20 +0000 http://wowlit.org/blog/?p=169#comment-8074 Janine/Marilyn, I wonder if you feel that those versions SHOULD be read in elementary classrooms. I also wonder if they are read in elementary classrooms if they could be compared to violent video games in desensitizing youth. Janine/Marilyn,

I wonder if you feel that those versions SHOULD be read in elementary classrooms. I also wonder if they are read in elementary classrooms if they could be compared to violent video games in desensitizing youth.

]]> By: Marilyn Carpenter http://wowlit.org/blog/2009/09/07/exploring-fairy-tales-part-i/comment-page-1/#comment-8073 Marilyn Carpenter Wed, 09 Sep 2009 23:45:45 +0000 http://wowlit.org/blog/?p=169#comment-8073 Janine, Bruno Bettelheim writes about the importance of fairy tales in providing a moral compass. Your reference to the evil characters being harshly punished is not always present in modern versions of the tales. Snow White by Randall Jarrell has such a harsh ending. The iron slippers are heated in the fire and then strapped on the witch who dances in them until she dies. In several of the Grimm versions of Cinderella, the evil stepsisters use a knife to trim their feet to fit the glass slipper. Are these versions being read in classrooms today? Janine,
Bruno Bettelheim writes about the importance of fairy tales in providing a moral compass. Your reference to the evil characters being harshly punished is not always present in modern versions of the tales. Snow White by Randall Jarrell has such a harsh ending. The iron slippers are heated in the fire and then strapped on the witch who dances in them until she dies. In several of the Grimm versions of Cinderella, the evil stepsisters use a knife to trim their feet to fit the glass slipper. Are these versions being read in classrooms today?

]]> By: Janine Schall http://wowlit.org/blog/2009/09/07/exploring-fairy-tales-part-i/comment-page-1/#comment-8072 Janine Schall Wed, 09 Sep 2009 21:19:07 +0000 http://wowlit.org/blog/?p=169#comment-8072 I don't know children who put on plays for their families, but a lot of my young acquaintances incorporate fairy tale characters into their imaginative play. These are mostly girls, mostly acting out the role of princess. My childhood memories of fairy tales are a bit darker. When I was eight or nine years old my grandfather gave me a Reader's Digest collection of fairy tales. These were older versions, not yet sanitized by Disney. I adored them in all their bloody, violent glory (I'm not sure what this says about me). It seemed so fitting that the evil characters would be harshly punished, often executed in brutal ways. My preteen self was quite satisfied at the very black and white view of world these fairy tales represented. I don’t know children who put on plays for their families, but a lot of my young acquaintances incorporate fairy tale characters into their imaginative play. These are mostly girls, mostly acting out the role of princess.
My childhood memories of fairy tales are a bit darker. When I was eight or nine years old my grandfather gave me a Reader’s Digest collection of fairy tales. These were older versions, not yet sanitized by Disney. I adored them in all their bloody, violent glory (I’m not sure what this says about me). It seemed so fitting that the evil characters would be harshly punished, often executed in brutal ways. My preteen self was quite satisfied at the very black and white view of world these fairy tales represented.

]]> By: Marilyn Carpenter http://wowlit.org/blog/2009/09/07/exploring-fairy-tales-part-i/comment-page-1/#comment-8071 Marilyn Carpenter Wed, 09 Sep 2009 18:53:25 +0000 http://wowlit.org/blog/?p=169#comment-8071 Barbara. I volunteer in a 2nd grade classroom and the children are eager to present plays. Reader's Theater is very exciting to them. I wonder too if they are able take part in plays at home? Does anyone know if children of today present plays for their families or neighbors? Barbara.
I volunteer in a 2nd grade classroom and the children are eager to present plays. Reader’s Theater is very exciting to them. I wonder too if they are able take part in plays at home? Does anyone know if children of today present plays for their families or neighbors?

]]> By: Barbara Thompson Book http://wowlit.org/blog/2009/09/07/exploring-fairy-tales-part-i/comment-page-1/#comment-8070 Barbara Thompson Book Wed, 09 Sep 2009 18:41:48 +0000 http://wowlit.org/blog/?p=169#comment-8070 Marilyn- Perhaps it speaks to our age as I too, or rather all the children in my suburban neighborhood would reinact fairy tales for our families. One of the neighbors had a cement "deck" with stairs leading down to the lawn. That served as our stage. We would assign roles, practice and even have our parents costume us before presenting our play to all the neighbors. I hadn't thought of that for years until your post, but it was a big part of neighborhood "play" when I was young. Somehow I don't think a lot of kids today are putting on plays for their parents and neighbors. (I may be a little out of touch since I live 1/2 mile from my nearest neighbor). Marilyn- Perhaps it speaks to our age as I too, or rather all the children in my suburban neighborhood would reinact fairy tales for our families. One of the neighbors had a cement “deck” with stairs leading down to the lawn. That served as our stage. We would assign roles, practice and even have our parents costume us before presenting our play to all the neighbors. I hadn’t thought of that for years until your post, but it was a big part of neighborhood “play” when I was young. Somehow I don’t think a lot of kids today are putting on plays for their parents and neighbors. (I may be a little out of touch since I live 1/2 mile from my nearest neighbor).

]]> By: Marilyn Carpenter http://wowlit.org/blog/2009/09/07/exploring-fairy-tales-part-i/comment-page-1/#comment-8069 Marilyn Carpenter Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:36:06 +0000 http://wowlit.org/blog/?p=169#comment-8069 James, My childhood versions of fairy tales starring me tells a lot about my personality but even more about how such imagined roles helped me survive a childhood centered around a home where children were to be "seen but not heard." Through reading and the spark that reading provided my imagination I was able to escape from an overbearing, opressive parent. I don't know about brain research on this topic, but I do know that Bruno Bettelheim writes in his groundbreaking book, The Uses of Enchantment: The Meaning and Importance of Fairy Tales, about the ways that fairy tales help children surmount difficult challenges. Stay tuned for next week's blog for more on this topic. James,
My childhood versions of fairy tales starring me tells a lot about my personality but even more about how such imagined roles helped me survive a childhood centered around a home where children were to be “seen but not heard.” Through reading and the spark that reading provided my imagination I was able to escape from an overbearing, opressive parent. I don’t know about brain research on this topic, but I do know that Bruno Bettelheim writes in his groundbreaking book, The Uses of Enchantment: The Meaning and Importance of Fairy Tales, about the ways that fairy tales help children surmount difficult challenges. Stay tuned for next week’s blog for more on this topic.

]]> By: Marilyn Carpenter http://wowlit.org/blog/2009/09/07/exploring-fairy-tales-part-i/comment-page-1/#comment-8068 Marilyn Carpenter Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:27:01 +0000 http://wowlit.org/blog/?p=169#comment-8068 Laurie, I will put Serendipity Market on my list of books to read. Thanks for the recommendation. Laurie,
I will put Serendipity Market on my list of books to read. Thanks for the recommendation.

]]> By: James Russell http://wowlit.org/blog/2009/09/07/exploring-fairy-tales-part-i/comment-page-1/#comment-8067 James Russell Wed, 09 Sep 2009 02:24:31 +0000 http://wowlit.org/blog/?p=169#comment-8067 Marilyn, I find it interesting that you "create(d) new versions" always with yourself as the heroine. Do you think it tells something about your personality? I imagine some children may re-create the stories and have themselves always as the antagonist. I winder if some brain research has been done studying the roles one puts themselves into. Fairy tales to me were told to me as a child through Disney films. Which I now feel that I was robbed as a child of the exploration of my own imagination. Marilyn, I find it interesting that you “create(d) new versions” always with yourself as the heroine. Do you think it tells something about your personality? I imagine some children may re-create the stories and have themselves always as the antagonist. I winder if some brain research has been done studying the roles one puts themselves into. Fairy tales to me were told to me as a child through Disney films. Which I now feel that I was robbed as a child of the exploration of my own imagination.

]]> By: LaurieA-B http://wowlit.org/blog/2009/09/07/exploring-fairy-tales-part-i/comment-page-1/#comment-8066 LaurieA-B Mon, 07 Sep 2009 14:33:21 +0000 http://wowlit.org/blog/?p=169#comment-8066 I am reading a lovely new novel, Serendipity Market by Penny Blubaugh, about telling stories. Ten are invited to the Serendipity Market at the end of the world, to share their stories and help balance the world's spin. Readers who are interested in fairy-tale retellings will definitely want to read Serendipity Market, and it could work very nicely with middle-grade and older students. I am reading a lovely new novel, Serendipity Market by Penny Blubaugh, about telling stories. Ten are invited to the Serendipity Market at the end of the world, to share their stories and help balance the world’s spin. Readers who are interested in fairy-tale retellings will definitely want to read Serendipity Market, and it could work very nicely with middle-grade and older students.

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