Fairy Tale Essay Assignment

Fairy Tales

            Fairy Tales have become synonymous with culture, early education and childhood.  What is the appeal of these stories? How do they endure through various cultures, translations, and times? You will be given a choice of tasks to complete for this assignment which address these very concerns. Choose one of the following assignments:

    A.) Creative Writing

                        Based upon what we have seen thus far, every fairytale contains certain characteristics (they should be found in your notes).  Design a fairytale that represents a cultural identity and the characteristics or redesign an older fairy tale to emphasize a modern cultural idea different from the original tale. The tales we have read/discussed in class are not options.  You may choose the culture you wish to represent, but it should be intertwined with the tale and represent that culture's customs and morals

Requirements:

   A complete full fairy tale that has

1.)    a clear opening, middle and end.

2.)    Demonstrates a majority of the characteristics

               https://www.courses.psu.edu/ger/ger100_fgg1/transparencies/fairytales.html

3.)    Clearly gives a moral or cultural depiction.

Please include a paragraph detailing your moral/cultural belief that you are representing or redesigning in your story.

          B.)  Interpreting Fairy Tales

                        Choose Several Fairy Tales (3-5) from the collection given below. Examine these tales for one of the following ideas:

a.)    Culturally what do they show us/teach us about society?

b.)    Is there a common idea, theme, or concept developed through out these tales?

c.)    How have fairy tales changed/developed over time?  (be sure to give an original, a “classical” and modern version of the same tale). 

Source of Tales:            http://www.pitt.edu/~dash. 

UPDATE!!  the old link is not working - please try the following link.  If this does not work, please comment so that I can correct it.

http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/grimm.html

Update: You may also want to use the following link:

http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/grimmtales.html   (courtesy of Will Smith)

Requirements:

Advanced:  a.) Reference to at least 2 tales.

b.) one direct quote and two paraphrasing quotations

d.)     Rules of Formal Writing

e.)      Clear thesis, paragraph development and conclusion

Honors:

a.) Reference to at least 3 tales.

b.) minimum 3 direct quotes.

f.)       Rules of Formal Writing

g.)     Clear thesis, paragraph development and conclusion

Due Date:  Rough Draft - March 4, 2011.
                 Final Draft - March 9, 2011

Maximum page lengths: Creative Writing is to be no more than 6 pages.
                                            Analytical Writing is to be no more than 4 pages.