“Once upon a time...” - At the beginning of a text these words already make obvious that the recipient is dealing with a fairy tale. Fairy tales are known all over the world, independent of age groups and social status. The most famous versions have been written by the Brothers Grimm, even though they were neither the first, nor the last authors of fairy tales. Instead, these stories have a very long tradition rooting in the culture of primitive people who expressed their own experiences by telling each other folk tales. Since then, every era and culture had tales like these, either adaptations of the original ones, or new stories always dependent on the respective time and situation, until the well-known fairy tales developed which are though to have been written for children. Today it is known, that this kind of literature is actually not only supposed to be for children. 1 Furthermore, the development of fairy tales didn’t stop in the 19 th century but is still in progress. By means of new media and modernised, often humorous, versions of the stories, they are still up-to-date and there exist versions for every age group. 2 One of these tales is the famous “Little Red Riding Hood”. With origins in the medieval storytelling tradition it has become a very popular folktale rewritten by different authors of various nationalities. Even today it is still a popular basis for stories, parodies or cartoons. Also at school, fairy tales like Little Red Riding Hood can be used in their various versions and genres, either in its original version as a folktale or as a humorous story. Using this kind of stories in school can be used to bring fun into the class as well as to make pupils familiar with the genre of humorous stories used to express certain grievances in the society. In the following, the development of the fairy tale as a whole and of “Little Red Riding Hood” in particular will be displayed. Afterwards the use of fairy tales in the classroom will be discussed, before the other use of the tale, its use as a humorous story and its use and function at school will be shown. Again, special attention will be paid to the example of “Little Red Riding Hood.” [...]
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- From the Oral Folktale to the Modern Fairy Tale
- The Development of "Little Red Riding Hood"
- From the Beginning Until the Grimms' Version
- The Development After the Grimms' Version
- The Fairy Tale as a Humorous Story
- Fairy tales in the Classroom
- What do Fairy Tales Teach?
- How Can Fairy Tales Be Used in the Classroom?
- How Can Fairy Tales Be Used in a Humorous Way?
- What Has to Be Borne in Mind
- "Little Red Riding Hood" in the Classroom
- "Little Red Riding Hood" as a Parody
- "Little Red Riding Hood” as a Cartoon
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper investigates the development and humorous use of fairy tales, specifically focusing on the story of "Little Red Riding Hood". The objective is to explore the evolution of this iconic tale from its oral origins to modern adaptations, highlighting its diverse uses in different contexts. The paper also examines how fairy tales can be used in a humorous manner, particularly in educational settings.
- The evolution of fairy tales from oral tradition to written form
- The development of "Little Red Riding Hood" throughout history
- The use of fairy tales in humorous stories and parodies
- The potential for using fairy tales in educational settings
- The humorous aspects of fairy tales and their relevance to contemporary culture
Chapter Summaries
- Introduction: This chapter introduces the topic of fairy tales, their widespread recognition, and the specific focus on "Little Red Riding Hood". It also highlights the use of fairy tales in educational settings and the potential for humorous interpretations.
- From the Oral Folktale to the Modern Fairy Tale: This chapter traces the historical development of fairy tales from their oral origins in primitive societies to their transformation into written forms during the late Middle Ages. It discusses the influences of different historical periods and social classes on the evolution of the fairy tale genre.
- The Development of "Little Red Riding Hood": This chapter examines the specific evolution of the "Little Red Riding Hood" story, focusing on its origins, variations across different cultures, and its adaptation by various authors.
Keywords
The key terms and concepts explored in this paper include fairy tales, folk tales, "Little Red Riding Hood", oral tradition, written tradition, humor, parody, education, classroom, and contemporary culture. The paper examines the development of these themes through the lens of historical analysis, cultural critique, and pedagogical considerations.
- Quote paper
- Melanie Kloke (Author), 2006, The Development and Humorous Use of Fairy Tales by the Example of Little Red Riding Hood, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/71853
