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Author
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Comment
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AliceB
Registered User
(12/18/03 2:24 pm)
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Hans Christian Andersen
Please forgive me if this discussion has occured before, but I have been wondering for a while why Hans Christian Anderson's tales are considered fairy tales when a great many of his stories contain no magic at all. I'm thinking for example of The Ugly Duckling, The Little Christmas Tree (I may have the title wrong here), The Match Stick Girl, The Emperor's New Clothes, and so on.
Any thoughts? If this has already been discussed, my apologies.
All the best,
Alice
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wrightales
Registered User
(12/19/03 8:31 am)
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Re: Hans Christian Andersen
Tolkien addresses that question in his essay On Fairy-stories published in Tree and Leaf and also in the Tolkien Reader. Basically he says ". . . fairy-stories are not in normal English usage ABOUT fairies or elves, but stories ABOUT Fairy, that is Faerie, the realm or state in which fairies have their being." He goes on to say that fairy-stories that feature fairies are relatively rare. "Most good 'fairy-stories' are about the adventures of men in the Perilous Realm or upon its shadowy marches."
My personal take on the question is close to his. I consider a story to be a fairy tale if it takes place in a land where magic is possible and the extraordinary is ordinary. But, I agree that not all of Andersen's stories qualify; The Little Match Girl for instance.
Wrightales
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AliceB
Registered User
(12/20/03 7:27 pm)
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Re: Hans Christian Andersen
Thank you Wrightales. Your definition makes sense, and it is one I have worked with (although have not been able to so eloquently express).
My question came from a discussion in another thread where The Ugly Duckling was used as an example of a fairy tale where beauty was not a primary feature of the main character. I have always thought of The Ugly Duckling as being a fable that fit easily with Aesop's Fables rather than with fairy tales, and I was puzzled that everyone seemed to agree that it was, in fact, a fairy tale. I guess it made me wonder if I was missing something.
Thank you again for your reply.
Wishing everyone all the best this holiday season,
Alice
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