At the start of this course, I believed fairy tales were only stories we read as children. I had no idea about the impact they cause and how important they are in society. Fairy tales matter because they spread and change cultures, shape our thinking, and help people separate themselves from the real world. They teach children about the culture and beliefs of the society (Ashliman 4). They also allow us to understand and navigate through the negative aspects of the world, like bad people. Fairy Tales are important to our everyday lives as they promote creativity. They allow people to dream and ..read more

Getting to be in Folktales and Fairytales for freshman year seminar this fall, helped teach me why fairytales are so important and why they matter to our society. They play a huge role in exploring common themes and portraying messages to all readers and listeners alike. They do this while teaching important moral lessons to young children while retaining their attention through the use of personifications alliteration and even using colorful images that help short attention children stay invested in the story. They also help power imagination and creativity in children, who dreamed of escapin ..read more

If one were to ask me before I took this course if fairy tales matter and play a big role in our lives, I would say probably not. After taking this class and learning how fairy tales impact us, as adults and children, it’s clear that fairy tales do affect us, and my answer would change to yes, fairy tales do matter. Fairy tales are a part of almost everybody’s lives, when in school at a young age you got fairy tales read to you, or for another example, when you’re trying to go to sleep your parents read you a fairy tale. Whether they’re reciting the classic versions, or even more modern, devel ..read more

Throughout the semester from the readings and discussions we have done I have learned a lot about fairy tales. In the grand scheme of things fairy tales actually matter a lot. Fairy tales are stories that are passed down and told to people of all forms and ages. They teach their readers important values and lessons given through the morals that are presented in the stories. Fairy tales help their readers, especially young children, by helping them learn about the world around them through the lessons shown to them in these tales. Fairy tales also matter by helping both stimulate and enrich the ..read more

Throughout my own personal experience and this course, it is apparent that fairy tales are important, not only at a young age when we first hear them, but throughout our lives. When we are kids fairy tales teach us important lessons, as in respect, selflessness, confidence, and more. They are efficient at this by keeping the story fast paced yet entrancing with elements of magic. As we get older, we may begin to forget the fairy tales that were read to us, or that we saw in the movies or tv shows we watched. However it’s also important to remember these stories as we get older. Reflecting on t ..read more

Throughout the fall semester in our SJNY100H class, I have learned a multitude of valuable information and lessons regarding our studies of fairy tales, and these findings can be carried with me through the many stages of life that I will encounter. Through the fairy tales that we read in the textbook and outside sources from reputable theorists, I learned why fairy tales matter and some new information that can serve as everlasting knowledge. Fairytales provide an escape from reality for children and their parents, and they can supply entertainment for all generations. They matter to our imag ..read more

Throughout my experience in fairytales and folktales, I have learned more than I thought I would. What I thought would be a course reliving some childhood memories turned out to be a journey through the looking glass. I learned the history of these classic tales, read some new stories, and discovered the real meaning behind these stories. I will discuss why fairytales matter to me, my favorite theorist we talked about in class, one thing I found surprising, one thing I found interesting, and what I believe should be included in the next teaching of the course.  Fairytales are way mor ..read more

Fairy tales figure out how to embed themselves into our lives without us realizing it in so many ways. Like our reading regarding memes, fairy tales have managed to convey important messages throughout the ages (Zipes, 2012, pg. 17), carrying an intention to teach a lesson, provide education, explain the unexplainable, and discuss the undiscussable (Ashliman, 2004, pg. 2-5). They have survived the tests of time as a fundamental part of human cultures, whether it be told in communal settings by old peasant women or by the tribal chief, whether it be read to a child in an orphanage by a nun or v ..read more

The content presented in this Folk and Fairy Tales class taught me useful tactics when identifying specific moral themes in the assigned tales, as well as teaching me things that I never knew were true about them. It is important to recognize and reflect upon what I have learned, more specifically about the particular theorists, how fairy tales fit into our everyday lives, as well as what activities I think could be helpful for future classes.  Based on my own experiences, the assigned readings, and reflections for this semester, I have come to the conclusion that reading fairy tales does ..read more

During this semester, I have learned a lot about fairy tales. Based upon my readings, reflections, and experiences this semester, I have been able to realize the importance of fairy tales. Fairy tales play an important role in both children’s and adult’s lives alike. They teach morals and lessons to people of all ages, and can provide a sense of comfort and imagination. Fairy tales are important to the development and support of imagination, especially in children, and can teach children important themes such as overcoming challenges. It allows for questions to be raised and answered, and prov ..read more