Fairy tales

Question 1

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (1865), considered the first English novel for juveniles intended solely to entertain. An industry in literature for very young children blossomed as well

Answer 1

Children’s literature

Question 2

A form of children’s literature consisting of a short, fanciful story that may feature witches, dragons, wicked stepmothers, and fairy godmothers.

Answer 2

fairy tale

Question 3

Rooted in oral tradition and folk literature, the fairy tale is of ancient origin.

Answer 3

fairy tale

Question 4

In “On Fairy Stories” (1947) J. R. R. Tolkien describes the four basic elements of fairy tales: fantasy—freedom from the domination of observed fact; escape—not an escape from the real world but a breakthrough into another reality; recovery—the return to ordinary life with a renewed spirit; and consolation, the happy ending (Tolkien uses the term eucatastrophe) that brings with it the promise of salvation.

Answer 4

fairy tale

Question 5

Tolkien’s structural breakdown of the fairy tale corresponds to some degree with the “as if” fictions of Hans Vaihinger. Another view of the value of fairy tales is that of the child psychologist Bruno Bettelheim.

Answer 5

fairy tale