fandomhigh | Traditional Fairy Tales, Class Two

Monday, January 15, Period 2

The table in the center of the room was filled with breakfast pastries and hot drinks, there were stacks of books close at hand for the students to borrow for their readings assignments, and Aziraphale looked quite cheerful as he sat in his armchair and waited for the class to arrived.

"Good morning, everyone! I hope you all enjoyed your first week of classes. Today we'll begin our discussion of the basic character archetypes found in fairy tales. Your assigned reading was Jack the Giant Killer and Molly Whuppie. Following the lecture, we'll discuss the central characters in these two stories, and how they fit into the roles of hero and villain."

LECTURE: "With a few exceptions, every fairy tale contains two central figures: the hero or heroine, and the villain. These characters can take many forms, from innocent child to clever thief, from evil stepmother to hungry wolf, but the central conflict of a fairy tale often evolves around the idea of the hero outwitting the villain. The hero may have a quest to fulfill, a puzzle to solve, or a difficult situation to escape. They may act out of self-defense, altruism, love, or necessity -- sometimes even out of greed or fear. Heros display a common set of characteristics -- in general, they are quick-witted, creative, and bold. Villains are not always evil, but are in general selfish and greedy, and usually act out of a desire to fulfill personal needs or an often baseless dislike of the hero."

DISCUSSION: "Take a look at the two stories from your assigned reading. Identify the hero and villain in each one, and then explain what motivates their actions. In your opinion, why is the villain villainous, and why does the hero act heroically?

"I would also like you to take a little time at the end of class to meet with the members of your project groups. I'll be expecting proposals for your final project in a few weeks, and I'll try to give you time during each class to meet with one another."

ASSIGNMENT: "For next week, read Mr Fox and John the True."

[ooc: For those who are new to Aziraphale's classes, there is always a spread of breakfast pastries and hot drinks, which you are free to mod. Also, the room is always arranged with comfortable chairs and couches for seating, rather than desks. ~~Please wait for the~~ OCD threads are now up, and class is in session.]

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"So, it sounds as if you're saying that Jack acts heroically out of the desire for personal gain," Aziraphale replied, nodding at Billy's statement. "Why does Molly take on the role of the hero in her story? And if the giants have sympathetic qualities as well -- particularly in the case of "Molly Whuppie" -- how do you think a listener or reader is expected to react to them? How is the tale able to keep the giant in the role of villain if the hero's actions can elicit sympathy for the villain?"

Billy was still avoiding looking at Aziraphale. "The Giants weren't given any sympathetic qualities really. Except possibly Jack's uncle, who was not described as actually attacking anyone, only that he was powerfull enough to do so. Molly's out for survival. At least at first. After that, it's gain, for herself, and her sisters. The main message of the stories, which seems unusual to me considering the time, is that brains win out over brawn, and that guilt by association is a valid reason for punishment."

"Thank you, Mr Kessler," Aziraphale said. "Why do you think it is that the stories might depict brains being more useful than brawn in defeating the villains?"

Billy couldn't quite come up with a reason that made sense. In fact, didn't a lot of the stories have commoners rising to great political heights? Wasn't that, the height of taboo until rather recently reletively speaking?

"I, don't know." billy admitted finally. "it seems to contradict the attitude of the time. Unless all our information about that is wrong." Which, he supposed, was possible.

"It does seem that way," Aziraphale agreed. "But it may also be a way to show how someone seemingly insignificant can overcome great obstacles and better himself. Even people who are physically strong, or are part of a strong group, have something that frightens and challenges them. By depicting a person who has nothing with which to combat his enemies except wits, the tales pass on the idea that anyone at all can make something of himself."

"when were these stories first bandied around again?" Billy asked, finding himself getting drawn into the conversation inspite of himself. Still not looking directly at him though.

"The versions that we're reading in class are for the most part from the nineteenth century, but they're part of a much older oral tradition. It's quite likely that these stories, in some form, have been around for hundreds of years," Aziraphale explained. "And many of the themes are found in stories that are even older, dating back to classical mythology."

Billy remembered the whole giant killing thing in greek mythology. "It's just that everything I've heard about the attitudes of the time that these stories seem to take place in at least, is that if you're common, you'd better not try to rise above your place."

"Well, that's putting it a bit broadly. There's never anything wrong with making a better life for yourself, and even if the ruling authority wanted to keep the common folk 'in their place', these stories weren't for the ruling authority." Aziraphale smiled at Billy, pleased that the young man was taking such an interest. "Think of it this way -- when you read the stories, you may not begin to believe that you can go kill giants and become rich, or marry a princess. But you might come away with the idea that if you're clever, and you keep your wits about you, and you learn how to make the most of an opportunity when it's presented, you could achieve something more than where you started from. You might tell these stories to your children not to make them think they should go searching for literal hidden treasures, but so that they'll understand the value of intelligence and courage."

Traditional Fairy Tales, Class Two

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