This Norton Critical Edition collects forty-four fairy tales, from the fifth century to the present. The Classic Fairy Tales focuses on six tale ty...
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Mar 02, 2009
Saide
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I wrote an essay based on what I truly learned from this fascinating book:
A Rite of Passage ‘To Eat or To Be Eaten’
The primary subject of the two fairy tales: Hansel and Gretel and the Little Thumbing are to narrate the rite of passage from a powerless childhood to the resourceful young adulthood. Two woodcutter families decide to get rid of their children during the famine and by doing so put their children in a dire position of to eat or to be eaten.
Centuries More...
A Rite of Passage ‘To Eat or To Be Eaten’
The primary subject of the two fairy tales: Hansel and Gretel and the Little Thumbing are to narrate the rite of passage from a powerless childhood to the resourceful young adulthood. Two woodcutter families decide to get rid of their children during the famine and by doing so put their children in a dire position of to eat or to be eaten.
Centuries More...
Oct 19, 2009
Laura
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Fans of fairy tales everywhere should read this. Maria Tatar brings together fairy tales from around the world, tied together in chapters with familiar modern Western titles (Cinderella, Red Riding hood, etc) and examined with a critical introduction.
For instance, we are treated to the familiar version of Grimms Cinderella alongside the Chinese Yeh-hsien, French Donkeyskin, English Catskin, Himilayan Story of the Black Cow and the Egyptian Princess in the Suit of Leather. Reading th More...
For instance, we are treated to the familiar version of Grimms Cinderella alongside the Chinese Yeh-hsien, French Donkeyskin, English Catskin, Himilayan Story of the Black Cow and the Egyptian Princess in the Suit of Leather. Reading th More...
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Feb 27, 2009
Cici
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I honestly did not know fairy tales were this dark until I read this book! All the fairy tales were a little disturbing because they don't have the classic fairytale "happily-ever-after"
I had never even heard of half these fairytales.. probably because a lot of them are different countries versions.
Juniper Tree and Bluebeard were probably the creepiest out of the book.
I guess now, looking back, the story of Hansel and Gretel was pretty scary.. but they also defeated t More...
I had never even heard of half these fairytales.. probably because a lot of them are different countries versions.
Juniper Tree and Bluebeard were probably the creepiest out of the book.
I guess now, looking back, the story of Hansel and Gretel was pretty scary.. but they also defeated t More...
Jun 08, 2011
Samantha
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I MOST DEFINITELY enjoyed reading this book. I liked it because everyone knows about the disney version of fairy tales, but not many know about the original version. Disney versions always have a happy ending. Many of the fairy tales in this book didn't always have a happy ending. It was interesting to find out how Disney completely recreated these fairy tales that originally have profanity, violence, and graphic scenes. This was my mom's book for college, so it's not really appropriate for my a
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Apr 06, 2010
Bri
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This is an excellent collection of fairy tales and I love the way that its organized. Instead of a single story--some that you are familiar with and some that you are not--the Norton edition grouped a number of stories under different categories so for Beauty and the Beast there were several variants, some very old, some modern, some that were sparse in style and others that were eloquent and intricate. For the fairy tale/folklore buff this collection is quite useful. Some of the lit crit ess
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Jul 21, 2009
Kelly Jo
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This was an enlightening book for me, since I belong to one of the first generations to be raised fully unaware of the non-Disney versions of fairy tales.
Maria Tatar collects here several versions of the "classic" fairy tales and provides commentary about their origins and differences: Little Red Riding Hood, Beauty and the Beast, Snow White, Cinderella, Bluebeard, and Hansel and Gretel. She also provides the reader with key tales from Hans Christian Anderson and Oscar Wil More...
Maria Tatar collects here several versions of the "classic" fairy tales and provides commentary about their origins and differences: Little Red Riding Hood, Beauty and the Beast, Snow White, Cinderella, Bluebeard, and Hansel and Gretel. She also provides the reader with key tales from Hans Christian Anderson and Oscar Wil More...
Dec 28, 2008
iele
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shows how fairy tales have been passed down, watered down, reinvented. so interesting to learn about how and why these stories have transformed (originating as racy stories of sex and violence shared among members of the peasant class to then be co-opted by the church and wealthy as didactic texts for small children).
Jul 28, 2011
Naomi
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Not easy reading! Its basically half really creepy fairy tales and half essays about them. Would only recommend if you like studying English, unless you were going to skip the introductions and just read the fairy tales. Although even then, it tends to be several versions of the same story and can get tedious.
Dec 19, 2009
Squeaky
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This was one of many books that were assigned texts for other peoples classes, but that somehow ended up in my book bag. I sure hope someone didn't have to go without their book this semester - it was very interesting, full of different versions of classic fairy tales as well as an overview of critical analysis
Nov 09, 2009
Hanabrighton
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From Comparative Lit class that I dubbed Comparing Fairy Tales - love the book...if you think you know Cinderella you should read "Donkey Skin" - she does actually wear a "donkey skin"...
May 15, 2009
jen8998
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Interesting critical edition of fairy tales. The stories are presented as tale types with multiple versions of each. It's fascinating how many countries came up with similar stories.
Nov 07, 2009
I have signed up for an online course with Professor Tatar, offered through my college.
http://perfectretort.blogspot.com/2009/1...
http://perfectretort.blogspot.com/2009/1...
Aug 23, 2009
The Classic Fairy Tales (Norton Critical Editions) by Maria Tatar (1999)
Aug 13, 2010
Giovanni
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I took a course on Fairy Tale Literature in college and this was a required book. Its an interesting read and contains many useful and insightful articles on the varying undertones and themes of many classic and beloved tales. Its useful and interesting if you have an interest in fairy tales but if not, you probably won't enjoy it.
Oct 09, 2009
Tortla
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A very nice compilation of fairy tales. The introductions at the beginnings of each tale-type section were informative, and the criticisms at the end were interesting (if occasionally annoying in how much they read into fairy tales). It's not the most comprehensive book of fairy tales, but what it does have is diverse and well-oriented by introduction and criticism.
Dec 05, 2009
Dawn
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How naive was I? I had always thought that Fairy Tales were written for children until I did a subject called 'Modern myth in Literature and Film'...It was a huge learning curve for me to read and compare the different versions of some of the Fairy Tales and to read of their origins.
Jan 21, 2008
Summer
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A collection and critique of fairy tales from their earthy origins (Little Red Riding Hood has a particularly raunchy past) to their Disnified role in pop culture. Retellings and scholarly essays, both informative and immensely entertaining.
Nov 03, 2008
Chris
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The collection includes various versions of the favorite tales as well as selections from Andersen and Wilde. The criticism refers not only to the included tales, but fairy tales in general. A good starting point for fairy tale study.
Sep 13, 2008
Vicki
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It is really rather fascinating to see how the same basic tale can be told in so many countries. They are recognisable tales, but very different from the ones we know and from each other.
Nov 11, 2010
Maureen
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Nice to have all the stories in one place, and seeing how the versions differed was kinda neat, but I could have done without the piles of feminist criticism.
Jan 19, 2012
Marigold
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Very good. A re-read. For all fairy tale lovers. Used in university classes. Important for fairy studies and readers of fairy tale novels.
Mar 19, 2011
Great critical essays and multiple translations/ variations on classic fairy tales
Jun 29, 2008
Samantha
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A very interesting read! Analyzing the tales, putting perspective on them.
Feb 11, 2012
Marisa
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The fairy tales themselves were really good but everything else was ehh.
Feb 11, 2012
