Classic Fairy Tales

From LoveToKnow Sci-Fi

Once upon a time . . . and here and today, classic fairy tales help shape and reflect the human experience. Teaching children to be wary of strangers, to tell the truth, and to see beyond what's superficial, fairy tales are effective primers that use stories to illustrate some of the most basic principles of human behavior in a cooperative society.

Classic fairy tales are often used as the basis for modern twisted fairy tales.

Understanding Classic Fairy Tales

From the time a baby reaches out to grasp a flailing appendage only to realize that the wiggling, pink thing in front of his face is actually his own foot, children are learning what it is to be human. There's a lot to learn, and fairy tales help to fill in the blanks. Some of these lessons are invaluable because they show children how important it is to be cautious and help them explore their fears of the unknown. Others are useful because they illustrate the advantages of fair play or the rewards for tolerance and honesty that are important qualities for getting along with others.

Fairy Tales Reveal Cultural Views

One of the most interesting aspects of the instructive potential of fairy tales is in the way that they help define how a culture collectively views its people. Every little girl who wants to be a fairy princess, or little boy whose imagination transforms a paper gift wrap tube into a saber so he can become a brave knight, is acting out a fundamental need to explore different ways of perceiving human experience, developing an individual persona and integrating into the greater society. Whether you believe that these perceptions of what's ideal or universal are built into our DNA, or hold the view that fairy tales engender these ideas, classic fairy tales are much more than simple stories and nonsensical rhymes.

Children Learn From Fairy Tales

The next time you see a child reading a picture book, watching a cartoon, or playing a made up game, pay closer attention. There's important work going on. Fairy tales and the stories, games, and ideas we weave from them help spin a thread that binds us all together. Being born doesn't come with an operating manual, but classic fairy tales may be a way for us to create one that's flexible enough to change as times change and still offer rich and rewarding lessons that children can intuitively understand.

Fairy Tale Resources

If you'd like to explore some cultural and psychological interpretations of fairy tales, the texts below can help:

Picturing the Rose: A Way of Looking at Fairy Tales - Marcia Lane
A Companion to the Fairy Tale - Hilda Davidson (Editor)
The Interpretation of Fairy Tales - Marie-Louise Von Franz
The Uses of Enchantment: The Meaning and Importance of Fairy Tales - Bruno Bettelheim
Once Upon a Time: On the Nature of Fairy Tales - Max Luthi
The Power of Myth - Joseph Campbell

Classic Fairy Tale Collections

Many fairy tales are in the public domain and can be read online or downloaded for detailed analysis or story time with your children. The following collections may not be complete, but most of the better-known tales are represented. Texts may vary slightly from translation to translation, but discovering some of the variations can be half the fun.