Fairy tales remain a literary tradition that is distinct from other forms of fiction. We recognize them and don't confuse them with fantasy stories, or children's stories, even though they are both. What is it that gives them this unique identity?
Fairy tales have ancient antecedents. They use narrative elements that have their origins in very old story forms, almost timeless.
In the most basic of interpretations, fairy tales are tales told for the instruction of children, imparting to them life lessons that they can remember throughout their lives.
Typically, these lessons involve
1. Moral lessons about right and wrong behavior. They often include examples of fairness, betrayal, commitment, and injustice.
2. Societal lessons about how people should act.
What are the responsibilities of girls when they grow up? First, there is the expectation to get married that Jasmine or Pocahontas had to face. They should be ready to keep the house, as Cinderella did for the Stepmother, or as Snow White did for the dwarves. They should be prepared to have their will integrated with that of the husband, like the Princess and the Frog or Belle did for the Beast.
What are boys going to be asked to do when they grow up? Boys will be asked to live by their wits like Aladdin, to fight for their loved ones like the prince in Sleeping Beauty, to plunge into the fraud-infested world of commerce, as did Jack and the Beanstalk.
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