Fantasy and Fairy Tales

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Fantasy and Fairy Tales
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Fantasy

• A genre that uses magic and other supernatural
  forms as a primary element of plot, theme and/or
  setting
• How does it differ from science fiction?
• Steers clear of technological themes
• Although there is a great deal of overlap
• Themes
• Good vs. Evil --Magic
• Hero --Quest
• Medievalism

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Fantasy Examples
Name some fantasy stories, movies or TV shows you
are familiar with

• Lord of the Rings
• Chronicles of Narnia
• Wizard of Oz

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Folklore

• A broad field of study that concerns itself with
  the ways in which people make meaning in their
  lives
• Subcategories of folklore
• Fairy Tales fantasy tale of well-known deeds and
  creatures
• Example The Little Mermaid, Sleeping Beauty,
  etc
• Think Once upon a time
• Urban Legends fictional story which actually be
  real. Warns against something.
• Example 71 Hitchhiker
• Legends traditional tale passed down which is
  believed to have historical basis usually based
  on a real person
• Example George Washington chopping down the
  cherry tree
• Myths ancient stories dealing with the origin of
  something
• Greek myths The Odyssey
• Tall Tales extravagant, exaggerated story which
  focuses on the achievements of the ultimate hero
• Folktales oral tradition, passed from one
  generation to the next

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What is the Purpose of Folk and Fairy Tales?

• All cultures have folk or fairy tales and most of
  them tell similar storieswhy?
• 1. Stories for children that would caution and
  train them for the world
• A. What would Little Red Riding Hood teach
  children?
• B. What morals are portrayed in fairy tales?

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What is the purpose of Folk and Fairy Tales?

• 2. Stories that show how life can be altered or
  changed to compensate for something that is
  lacking.
• A. What is lacking in Cinderellas life?
• B. How is her life altered or changed?

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What is the Purpose of Folk and Fairy Tales?

• 3. They represent the collective unconscious
• A. Jung (psychologist) believed that there are
  universal dark forces that people are naturally
  afraid of
• B. Jung believed that there are archetypes and
  these are found in all cultures

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Story Archetypes

• 1. The hero Rescuer, champion
• 2. The maiden Purity, desire
• 3. The wise old man Knowledge, guidance
• 4. The magician Mysterious, powerful
• 5. The earth mother Nature
• 6. The witch or sorceress Dangerous
• 7. The trickster Deceiving, hidden

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Fairy Tale Questions

• Create a breakdown of your fairy tale using
  Freytags Pyramid.
• What is the moral of
• of the tale?
• What other stories are
• similar to this one?
• (Modern versions, TV shows, etc)
• What archetypes are present in this tale?