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Author
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Comment
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Zanobia
Unregistered User
(1/13/03 1:24:19 pm)
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Butchers in stories
Ok, I know this question is slightly under the influence of Gangs of New York, but there's also a lot of history to it and I was wondering if Fairy Tales share the same thing. Is there a role for Butchers the comes up generally in fairy tales? I can think of the Red Shoes when the butcher relieves the girl from her out-of-control dancing feet. But, at least in the story I know, he is depicted as a good guy. In history, New York and elsewhere, Butchers have often been riot leaders and/or paid hitmen, which is understandable considering their physical strength, adept usage of knives, and accustomisation to blood and gore. So, do Butchers come up as such in fairy tales out there?
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Jane Yolen
Unregistered User
(1/13/03 1:33:48 pm)
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two more butchers
There's a butcher in the Jewish song-story "One Goat" sung at Passover, and a butcher in a Greek fairy tale I retold in Fairie's Ring.
Can't think of others off hand.
Jane
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Gregor9
Registered User
(1/13/03 1:48:56 pm)
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Re: two more butchers
It seems to me there's a butcher in Apuleius' "The Golden Ass", too, at one point, but it's been awhile, so don't trust me on that.
Greg
Edited by: Gregor9 at: 1/13/03 1:49:58 pm
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Helen
Registered User
(1/13/03 5:40:03 pm)
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Re: two more butchers, again...
Well, according to holy writ (a.k.a. the Aarne-Thompson index), there are two other tale types featuring butchers: A-T 750G, featuring a butcher as the Devil, and A-T 67, in which a butcher catches a fox. The former sounds close to what you're looking for: in the description, we're told that "A poor widow begs the godfather of her children, a butcher, for help but he refuses. The woman finds a pot of money in the ground. The butcher pretends to be the devil and wants the money. The real devil carries him away." It's Czech, citation Tille Soupis I 165-171 10. I hope this helps!
Best,
Helen
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