Maria Tatar's What Is A Fairy Tale
Analysis of “What is a Fairy Tale?” by Jessica Sweet.
Throughout humanity, it is common for us to question things that are unfamiliar or unorthodox to us. A fairy tale is a form of literature that is unorthodox in its subject matter but promotes morals that are generally applicable to those from all walks of life. In “What is a Fairy Tale?” by Maria Tatar, it is made clear that we must question the deeper meaning of these stories if we want a more clear understanding of how and why society functions the way that it does, because society and culture themselves are built upon stories and literature. Throughout the passage, Tatar conveys the message that fairy tales, as simple as they may seem, contain intricacies unique to the genre, such as the stories’ ability to be ever-evolving, yet still having a unique and …show more content…
Fundamentally, society is built on literature, whether it be written or spoken word. This is made clear when Tatar notes that early storytelling “encapsulated something more than practical knowledge” (Tatar, 16). Fairy tales are a form of literature that compels us to think less practically and both more intricately and whimsically, which in turn, allow us to learn more about humanity and society in a way that is far less bombarding than cracking open a philosophy or anthropology textbook, and in turn, more simplistic and child-appropriate. This experimental form of literature is then described as “a thought experiment, the goal of which, in the end, is not only to entertain, but to get us thinking” (Tatar, 16). These tales in their many forms share a commonality; they were carefully crafted in order to convey a moral that is of very broad nature, yet simplified for a younger audience, in renditions such as those of Disney. However, the Disney-affiliated versions of these stories stem from much darker and twisted tales, with the aforementioned tones being flagship characteristics of their “cultural
Throughout humanity, it is common for us to question things that are unfamiliar or unorthodox to us. A fairy tale is a form of literature that is unorthodox in its subject matter but promotes morals that are generally applicable to those from all walks of life. In “What is a Fairy Tale?” by Maria Tatar, it is made clear that we must question the deeper meaning of these stories if we want a more clear understanding of how and why society functions the way that it does, because society and culture themselves are built upon stories and literature. Throughout the passage, Tatar conveys the message that fairy tales, as simple as they may seem, contain intricacies unique to the genre, such as the stories’ ability to be ever-evolving, yet still having a unique and …show more content…
Fundamentally, society is built on literature, whether it be written or spoken word. This is made clear when Tatar notes that early storytelling “encapsulated something more than practical knowledge” (Tatar, 16). Fairy tales are a form of literature that compels us to think less practically and both more intricately and whimsically, which in turn, allow us to learn more about humanity and society in a way that is far less bombarding than cracking open a philosophy or anthropology textbook, and in turn, more simplistic and child-appropriate. This experimental form of literature is then described as “a thought experiment, the goal of which, in the end, is not only to entertain, but to get us thinking” (Tatar, 16). These tales in their many forms share a commonality; they were carefully crafted in order to convey a moral that is of very broad nature, yet simplified for a younger audience, in renditions such as those of Disney. However, the Disney-affiliated versions of these stories stem from much darker and twisted tales, with the aforementioned tones being flagship characteristics of their “cultural