The Wisdom of Fairy Tales

by Rudolf Meyer

The fairy tale with its archetypal images lives on through all the changes and upheavals of society. This book attempts to rediscover the lost meaning of these stories, and shows how they can have a profound positive influence on the developing mind of the child. The author contends that telling fairy tales to children today gives spiritual nourishment which later in life can be a source of ideals and imaginative creative thinking. The prince, the tailor, the miller, Snow White and Cinderella are images of different elements of our own nature. It is this resonance, he says, which endears these figures to us. There is a wisdom in these characters which runs deeper than allegory or what can be found in psychoanalysis.

Genres: Nonfiction, Fairy Tales

267 pages, Hardcover

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.