The Wisdom of Fairy Tales

by Rudolf Meyer

Fairy tales, though they were originally folk tales told to adults, have been a key part of childhood for centuries and remain popular today. Their patterns and morality have a profound influence on the developing mind of children; they shape the way children understand ideas of good and evil, poverty and riches, beauty and ugliness. They stimulate the imagination and provide much-needed heroes and heroines. The deeper meaning of these tales, however, has often been lost. Rudolf Meyer explores key themes and images, such as the prince, animals, the tailor or enchantment, in well-known fairy tales. He shows how characters such as Snow White and Cinderella represent particular aspects of our own nature and how there is a deep wisdom to be found in their stories. This book will be fascinating and insightful reading for parents and teachers.

Genres: Nonfiction, Fairy Tales

268 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1981

Reviews

[JaNeal · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm working on a research paper for a fairy tale, so I will admit to scanning much of this book (found at my local library). Still, it seems to hold some interesting ideas that seems to tie together many diverse ideas for me. In a class I have taken, we have had to weave together Frued, Carl Jung, and Joseph Campbell while analyzing folk a fairy tales. It has been a mind-bending exercise. What I like about this book as that it takes some of these themes (though indirectly) and shapes them to a Christian perspective. The author is a theologian and philosopher and it is interesting to see the Christian motifs he extracts from many of the tales. I would probably give this book a higher rating if I spent more time in it, but at this point I just need to get that paper written! I'm sure I don't agree with every point of the book, but there is some good food for thought.

[Cass Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're looking for a study on why fairytales stick and how to become a better story teller, look no further. The art of story telling began with fairytales and folklore, learning how they're woven is a craft worth studying.
Meyer broke down the craft in a way that made me feel like I could do better in my lore when world building as an author. Loved this book.

[Whole And · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deep and rich insights into magical world of Fairy Tales and their underlying meaning.
You'll want to take this book in slowly and re-read all the fairy tales mentioned to see what
the author is discussing. An incredible experience overall.