„Es war einmal”, «Il était une fois», “Once upon a time”: everyone knows one of these phrases, no matter how you say it. Fairy tales are a very important part of all literary cultures. Whether they are spoken aloud or read, each culture has a repertoire of fairy tales. For many, fairy tales are fun stories to read to young children that have good lessons; but fairy tales also reflect the culture and values of societies. Not only are fairy tales allegorical, entertaining, and transport you to a fantastical world, but they also contain lessons in morality. In my presentation, I analyze popular fairy tales that are famous in both France and Germany: Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty, to discover what these fairy tales say about society and how they reflect the culture of their respective countries. The possibilities of analysis are endless with the tales containing political commentary, perceptions of gender, religious values and much more. I delve into the question of: What more can we learn from fairy tales besides lessons on what we should and should not do? How grounded in reality are fairy tales? And what are the implications on child development of reading fairy tales? Another aspect of my presentation is translation. Working with materials in French, German and English required not only knowledge of the language, but also their cultures. In the presentation I analyze how the author’s voice and the culture of their society is reflected in their use of language.
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