Stith Thompson Fairy Tale Summary
Fairy Tale Comparative Critique
Stith Thompson, an early-to-mid 1900’s author of “Universality of the Folktale” and modern day writer Maria Tatar, author of “An Introduction to Fairy Tales,” discuss why they think fairy tales have remained popular through the ages. Thompson and Tatar both claim the enduring popularity of the fairy tale is a direct result of oral recitation. However, it is the skilled delivery method that keeps the fairy tales popular not just the spoken word.
Both Thompson and Tater give their views on the popularity of fairy tales. The late Stith Thompson was an author in folklore studies and distinguished educator at Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana. Thompson says, through the ages from every culture on the planet, …show more content…
Until the reader narrows the scope to look more closely at Thompson’s message. At first Thompson asserts, “it is impossible to make a complete separation of the written and the oral traditions…nor is complete separation of these two kinds of narrative…necessary for their understanding” (269). To the reader Thompson is saying the importance of the fairy tale’s meaning is delivered equally well through written or oral retelling, so long as the narrator stays true to the authoritative source and the accuracy of the traditional fairy tale (268). However, Thompson clarifies himself later when talking about the effectiveness of expressions and gestures while storytelling. He says “It becomes something to tell …not something to read” (Thompson 269). Thompson is acknowledging the separate importance the orator gives to the life of the story. The importance of the orator to mesmerize is similarly revealed by Tatar. Tatar insists, it is important the storyteller should be allowed to use different diction and inflection, to modify the story, in order to teach about “real world” problems. She instructs that a skilled oral rendition is the most important method of delivery when she states, “it is the experience of reading out loud or retelling that produces the most powerful resonance and responses” (311). Can you imagine someone retelling “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” without clasping their hands together and cackling the words: “I’ll get you my prettyyyy and your little dog tooooo!” This interpretation resonates more powerfully with an audience than any written text
Stith Thompson, an early-to-mid 1900’s author of “Universality of the Folktale” and modern day writer Maria Tatar, author of “An Introduction to Fairy Tales,” discuss why they think fairy tales have remained popular through the ages. Thompson and Tatar both claim the enduring popularity of the fairy tale is a direct result of oral recitation. However, it is the skilled delivery method that keeps the fairy tales popular not just the spoken word.
Both Thompson and Tater give their views on the popularity of fairy tales. The late Stith Thompson was an author in folklore studies and distinguished educator at Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana. Thompson says, through the ages from every culture on the planet, …show more content…
Until the reader narrows the scope to look more closely at Thompson’s message. At first Thompson asserts, “it is impossible to make a complete separation of the written and the oral traditions…nor is complete separation of these two kinds of narrative…necessary for their understanding” (269). To the reader Thompson is saying the importance of the fairy tale’s meaning is delivered equally well through written or oral retelling, so long as the narrator stays true to the authoritative source and the accuracy of the traditional fairy tale (268). However, Thompson clarifies himself later when talking about the effectiveness of expressions and gestures while storytelling. He says “It becomes something to tell …not something to read” (Thompson 269). Thompson is acknowledging the separate importance the orator gives to the life of the story. The importance of the orator to mesmerize is similarly revealed by Tatar. Tatar insists, it is important the storyteller should be allowed to use different diction and inflection, to modify the story, in order to teach about “real world” problems. She instructs that a skilled oral rendition is the most important method of delivery when she states, “it is the experience of reading out loud or retelling that produces the most powerful resonance and responses” (311). Can you imagine someone retelling “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” without clasping their hands together and cackling the words: “I’ll get you my prettyyyy and your little dog tooooo!” This interpretation resonates more powerfully with an audience than any written text