Fairy Tale Unit Notes- part 1 Notes- part 1

Fable Fable A story that isn’t really about the characters but is about its readers. Fables teach the reader a lesson. A story that isn’t really about the characters but is about its readers. Fables teach the reader a lesson.

Myth A story that tells us how to live, what to believe and how to behave. It gives an explanation A story that tells us how to live, what to believe and how to behave. It gives an explanation as to why changes occur as to why changes occur within a society. within a society.

Folktale A story that circulates orally without having been written down. It follows a basic plot line which is shared by a variety A story that circulates orally without having been written down. It follows a basic plot line which is shared by a variety of different versions. of different versions.

Fairy Tale A story that was once a folktale but that has at some point in history been written down and A story that was once a folktale but that has at some point in history been written down and printed as published text. printed as published text.

Tall Tales Tall Tales are stories which are so outrageously exaggerated the reader cannot possibly believe them. Tall Tales are stories which are so outrageously exaggerated the reader cannot possibly believe them.

Oral to Written *Fairy Tales were originally folktales. *Many people could *Many people could not read or write. not read or write. *As the people became educated, these stories were written down. *As the people became educated, these stories were written down.

Oral to Written Oral to Written Most Fairy Tales Most Fairy Tales were written during the were written during the 17 th century. 17 th century.

Oral to Written No one knows where the tales actually came from. Many believe that each story was invented by a single person and as the story was passed on, it became influenced by No one knows where the tales actually came from. Many believe that each story was invented by a single person and as the story was passed on, it became influenced by many people from all many people from all over the world. over the world.

Oral to Written Regardless of the subtle differences from Regardless of the subtle differences from version to version to version, the story line is still the same. version, the story line is still the same.

Intended Audience During earlier times, children were not singled out or protected, but were allowed to hear the same stories as adults. During earlier times, children were not singled out or protected, but were allowed to hear the same stories as adults. Fairy Tales were not Fairy Tales were not appropriate and child-like; they were instead evil and horrific.

Intended Audience Fairy Tales were originally women’s experiences passed down by mothers and grandmothers to their young daughters. Fairy Tales were originally women’s experiences passed down by mothers and grandmothers to their young daughters. These tales were told while women did boring tasks These tales were told while women did boring tasks such as spinning and sewing. sewing.

Intended Audience Intended Audience During a time when women had very few rights, telling Fairy Tales were one way that they could make their opinions well known. During a time when women had very few rights, telling Fairy Tales were one way that they could make their opinions well known. Tales were their Tales were their only way to rebel.

Intended Audience These tales were mostly about cruelty towards women, forced These tales were mostly about cruelty towards women, forced marriages, power struggles, true love, and the false glory of war.

Men vs. Women When these tales were written down, the majority of the authors were women. When these tales were written down, the majority of the authors were women. “Old Wives Tales” “Old Wives Tales” Countess d’Aulnoy Countess d’Aulnoy Countess de Murat Countess de Murat

Men vs. Women Women’s versions were more inventive, original, gruesome, fantastic and nasty than the men’s versions. Women’s versions were more inventive, original, gruesome, fantastic and nasty than the men’s versions. The best known fairly tales today are the ones collected or written by men that were changed to favor the charming Prince and The best known fairly tales today are the ones collected or written by men that were changed to favor the charming Prince and not the clever heroine.