Understanding Fairy Tales from Around the World

Once Upon a Time

Cultural Differences in Fairy Tales

In many lands and many cultures people told stories that had important themes (life lessons).

The original stories had no author!

These stories were once known as traditional fantasy, but we know them as fairy tales.

Once Upon a Time…

Stories From Many Lands

Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood and Sleeping Beauty were stories told in many countries, in different languages along with cultural differences, but all basically held the same message.

Magic Castles Forests/ deep dark woods (European fairy

tales) “magic number” 3 or 7 “good” characters and “bad” Royalty Long ago, far away…

How Can I Tell if it’s a Fairy Tale?

The characters in these tales may be faced with everyday human experiences such as Love Jealousy Fear Greed Danger Loss Acceptance Good vs. evil

Characters, Plot, Setting and Theme

The plot is usually very simple because stories were told by and among “common” people.

These people were generally farmers and country folk with little to no education. Many of them did not know how to read or write.

Plot

The setting is usually in the past… once upon a time…

Setting

Themes in traditional tales are universal… You are judged by the company you

keep Don’t talk to strangers Misery loves company Don’t count your chickens before

they’re hatched One good turn deserves another

Theme

The Cinderella story has been retold many times throughout many cultures. Some of the elements remain the same, while some change according to the culture.

Cinderella Around the World

Fractured Fairy Tales

This is a fairy tale that is changed in some way to be funny! The story may be told from a different point of view.

The stories are “twisted” or “fractured” from the original.