投稿類別 : 英文寫作. 篇名 : Unmasking the Enchanted: Fairy Tales

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1 投稿類別 : 英文寫作 篇名 : Unmasking the Enchanted: Fairy Tales Authors: Jessica Chang 張儀如 台南女子中學 高一 17 班 Grace Chen 陳莞弦 台南女子中學 高一 17 班 Kristine Lan 藍芳琳 台南女子中學 高一 17 班 Instructor: 蔡怡婷老師 0

2 I. Introduction It is no doubt that Disney has made a huge impact on the childhood memories of many and we are no exception. From toddlers to teenagers, Disney animations have fascinated the lives of numerous innocent kids and brought us up to maturity. The happy-ever-afters and good-versus-evil plots furnished our childhoods, surrounding us with the scent of fragrant, blooming flowers- the aroma of spring and briar roses, resulting in a colorful childhood. We have always known Disney s light-hearted versions of animated fairy tales, but after we came in contact with the original versions we were all shocked by its difference. As a result, a dire impression of original fairy tales have been engraved in us, but as we ventured further into this region we find that they aren t as dark and depressing as expected. Before Disney, before censored editions for children, were these household tales suitable for young minds? Which versions should be recommended to children? We hope that through clearly identifying and compare and contrasting fairy tales can we propose a strong notion to determine whether they are. II. Thesis A. Ice-breaking Fairy Tales The origin of the name fairy tales dates back to the 17 th century, when French writer Madame d Aulnoy first used the name Contes de Fees (Tales of the Fairies) as the title for her collection of stories. There has been much dispute to explicitly define the genre of a fairy tale, but there are a few major characteristics that scholars agree on. There are two common preferred definitions for fairy tales. The first definition usually portrays it as a story about the occult and the magical. The other definition describes it as unbelievable, untrue, or even a lie. Considering the given information, we can be sure that magic and fiction are the basic elements of a standard fairytale. Most fairy tales share similar qualities. A great majority of fairy tales resolve to happily-after- ever endings. The once upon a time opening 1

3 is a noticeable icon, thereby evoking a combination of real time and fantasy. Generally speaking, there must be some magic, though not necessarily fairies as the name suggests, in the story. B. Evolution of Fairy Tales Though there is no definite history of fairy tales and we can t possibly fix the exact time when the first tale originated, it is believed that fairy tales were initially passed down orally. Once upon a time, fairy tales, which dates back to the pre-historic times, were spoken and circulated orally by word of mouth. The majority of people were illiterate and communication among ordinary people was through spoken words. Besides, there were no reasons for these tales to be recorded in printed collection as the people who wished to hear them had access to the tales orally. As time progresses, such oral stories evolved into the written tales we see now. These stories became written not spoken as popular literature developed and when people in general stop telling them orally. The first recognizable versions of some of the fairy tales we know today were recorded by a Frenchman called Charles Perrault. Soon after, Perrault s writings enjoyed such an instant success that it provoked the trend of recording the stories of oral tradition in the French court. However, the first written records weren t intended specifically for children; they served as a sophisticated vehicle for the morals of the French court. (Reference 1) Subsequently, the next important collection of fairy tales was recorded by German historians Jakob and Wilhelm Grimm and included over two hundred tales. After absorbing the essence of the two masterminds, we can conclude that Brothers Grimm weren t interested in the audience of children. On the contrary, the Grimms collected these tales with the political purpose of supporting unification by finding evidence of the basic linguistic and cultural oneness of the German people. (Reference 2) After fairy tales were collected and recorded, they serve as prototypes for storytellers like Hans Christian Andersen, who created stories of his 2

4 own. These stories, called literary fairy tales, differ significantly from the traditional fairy tales they were originally based on. C. Disney Versus Original Many Disney s movies or cartoons are adapted from classical fairy tales. The general synopsis of Disney s many films includes evil women with dark arts defeated by the male protagonist and a happily-ever-after. The fairy tales told to children today are, inarguably, heavily influenced by Disney, which often mislead viewers into believing fairy tales as sweet and blissful. Had we known the worldwide tales that Disney s versions were based on, we would be outraged and stricken with shock upon discovering the hidden truth. However, when Disney s versions are compared with the original as follows, we can see how the dark plots are eliminated and how a seeming tragedy is transformed into a happy-ever-after. 1. The Grimm s Snow White wasn t a very child-friendly story until lively singing animals were added to the plot packed with attempted murder. In the first edition of Nursery and Household Tales, Snow White s mother never dies; her vanity and pride turn her into an ogre who orders her daughter murdered; she then devours what she believes to be the girl s lungs and liver. (Reference 3) The Grimms do replace the mother with a wicked stepmother in later editions, which influences Disney s depiction of the villain as Snow White s stepmom. 2. A mistreated girl, a glass slipper, and a magical dream are the three main elements of Cinderella. While the plotline of Cinderella has remained much the same, modern day retellings leave out some gruesome scenes. The story of Cinderella has demonstrated for centuries how crucial it is to have a dream, for no hardships nor sorrow could be enough to shred it. Dare to dream, and feel the magic that will fulfill your most earnest wishes. a. Disney s Cinderella is the most similar remixed version of its 3

5 original fairy tale. It is loyal to the original version throughout the movie, only leaving out the somewhat malicious parts. b. Fortunately, Cinderella s sisters didn t go cutting off their toes or heels in order to fit their big feet into the glass slipper in Disney s version. This would be a gruesome sight. c. If having a bloody pair of feet were not bad enough, getting your eye balls pecked out would surely be a little overboard. Later adaptations, other than Disney, were all wise enough to leave out these parts. 3. The bronze mermaid statue in Copenhagen immediately reminds us of many childhood memories of the naïve mermaid wishing for a pair of legs. The story can end in two different ways: one is beautifully tragic, and the other is rose-tinted. The wistful melancholy ending of the original Hans Christian Andersen story is transformed into a sing-along tale with a joyously happy ending by Disney. a. Ariel, the chief protagonist, stayed human and married the Prince Charming of her life whereas Andersen s little mermaid didn t enjoy as much luck. The little mermaid of the first edition silently watched her prince charm another woman, and then became one of the daughters of the air, a narrow escape from dissolving into foams. b. Andersen s sea witch was not as the main antagonist in his version while Disney ensured that there was a solid opponent to defeat. In addition, Disney ignored the violence and pain of the little mermaid. In the original version, when she walked, it felt as if sharp swords were going through her. D. Reasons for Dark Events Classical fairy tales often include much intimidating and bleak factors, but why? There are two main reasons: First, to give impact to the reader; second, being influenced by the author s adversaries. 4

6 1. Fairy tales contents have a lot to do with their audience. Influenced by contemporary circumstances, most authors usually try to convey certain morals to the reader. In this way, fairy tales tell the reader what is commonly accepted by the public. The graphic violence and inappropriate intimacy are surely not to be overlooked, but there must be a reason why they are set artfully in a traditional fairy tale. The severe consequences the protagonist suffers are often exaggerated into these extreme cases. Learning a lesson from the protagonist s experience, readers inadvertently receive the writer s message. Many allegories apply to fairy tales. Fairy tales could be called a dictionary of common ethics. For example, the Brothers Grimm Snow White implies that young bourgeois girls should make themselves useful through work. These allegories involve social expectations which the writers wish to convey. Another example, Perrault s Cinderella teaches us not to take what doesn t belong to us by showing how her stepsisters tried to cut their toes to fit in the glass slipper but fail. 2. The whole mood of a story is heavily affected by an author s style, while an author s style is shaped by the author s experience. In particular, we speak of Hans Christian Andersen, since he was one of the few folklorists who conceive original tales to entertain readers. Though Andersen s family was believed to have connections with the nobility, his family conditions were poor and he received little education in his early years. He was also forced to support his family after his father died. Even when he achieved world-wide fame, he was still in a fairly poor financial situation. Also, his personal life and career before seeking refuge in literature was not at all smooth. He set out for Copenhagen at the age of fifteen in hope of becoming an actor. Unfortunately for him, it did not turn out to have a satisfactory result. In The Little Mermaid, Andersen made the mermaid naturally inferior to the prince to express his social inferiority. But he also wanted to revenge on the people that rejected him, so he made the mermaid 5

7 beautiful but the prince a careless and senseless man so he couldn t see the natural inferiority of the mermaid. Hans Christian Andersen, at first glance, did not have a happy final touch to his mermaid masterpiece. However, from a different point of view, the little mermaid got something better than love from the prince- the passage to heaven. All this was plotted perfectly to express himself through literary form, and wrote into the heart of many who feel that they are little mermaids. E. The Triumph of Disney All your dreams can come true, if you have the courage to pursue them. This is the motto of Walt Disney pictures and nothing else could represent the motives of Disney recreating fairy tales as completely as this. Due to the fact that he lacked a carefree and happy childhood, film producer and director Walter Disney was determined to entertain people by brightening their lives with fantasy and magic. His profound love for his daughters and children in general led him to create numerous movies that have brought wonder and smiles to countless little faces. As mentioned before, the subjects of Disney s films were based on classical fairy tales. While Disney has cleansed the once bloody tales to fit the audience, the basic but positive messages still remain. His works consists of high wholesome family values, with a pinch of optimism and good humor. Such movies were described as true inspirational stories or the frontiers of science, thereby marking the success and legacy Disney has left behind. It is no doubt that Disney has successfully captured millions of young audiences through surreal characters, vivid graphics, and lively theme songs. Although people criticize the false messages, such as racism, social indifference, cultural violence, and sexism, lurking within Disney films, we cannot deny Disney s intentions and success of providing pure escapism and amusement. F. Suitable for Young Minds? 6

8 When reading classic fairy tales, it is far from difficult to come across a dreadful scene. However, one should keep in mind that these horrific sights weren t intended to give readers a fright; they are usually symbolic of certain characteristics. For example, in the story of Cinderella, blindness symbolizes the lack of spiritual awareness, whereas evil stepmothers represent the child s need to mature emotionally without the guidance of parents. Furthermore, seemingly dead, yet alive, characters, exemplified by the deep slumber in Sleeping Beauty, signify physical and emotional growth. Therefore, when it comes to the question of which versions children should read, some professors do not fully discard alternatives of classic tales. Fairy tales can be a richly satisfying form of literary pleasure. Not only will children exposed to a wide variety of new and old stories have access to a variety of enjoyable experiences, but also, I believe, they aren t likely to be indoctrinated into the values of any of them. (Reference 4) A fairy tale is long-lasting because of its basic life lessons. It provides moral guidance, illustrates propriety, and the consequences of one s wrong-doings. Hence, those who read classic fairy tales would obtain a large menu of literary repertoire and could be able to determine their own values. III. Conclusion Fairy tales are not just happy ever after stories told to children before bedtime. Instead, they may reflect on contemporary beliefs or the author s personal life. Every event in a fairy tale is carefully considered and conveyed. We should also think logically about the contents of a traditional fairy tale, and decide what to leave for the next generation. Though, some original, darker versions may symbolize certain concepts. The reason that people get so attached to fairly tales is probably due to their magical properties and an author's influence on children's imaginations. Therefore, Disney shall continue performing its great fairy tale remixing skills to suit the modern tastes of people, bringing enthusiasm to all. IV. Reference 7

9 1. Brown, Sarah The History of European Fairy Tales. Macmillan Publishers Limited, p Nodelman, Perry The Pleasures of Children s Literature, Second Edition. White Plains, NY: Longman Publishers USA, p Tatar, Maria The Hard Facts of the Grimms Fairy Tales. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press, p Same as Reference 2. Nodelman, Perry The Pleasures of Children s Literature, Second Edition. White Plains, NY: Longman Publishers USA, p Zipes, Jack Fairy Tales and the Art of Subversion. New York, NY: Methuen, Inc., p Sale, Roger Fairy Tales and After: From Snow White to E. B. White. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press, p Porsdam, Helle Copyright and Other Fairy Tales: Christian Andersen and the Commodification of Creativity. Massachusetts: Edward Elgar Publishing Limited, p Wikipedia.com 9. Dictionary.com Answers.com Yourdictionary.com 8