The Owl, the Raven, and the Dove: The Religious Meaning of the Grimms' Magic Fairy Tales

ISBN-13: 9780195151695 / Angielski / Miękka / 2002 / 208 str.

G. Ronald Murphy

Opis

The fairy tales collected by the brothers Grimm are among the best known and most widely-read stories in western literature. In recent years commentators such as Bruno Bettelheim have, usually from a psychological perspective, pondered the underlying meaning of the stories, why children are so enthralled by them, and what effect they have on the the best-known tales (Hansel and Gretel, Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Snow White, and Sleeping Beauty) and shows that the Grimms saw them as Christian fables. Murphy examines the arguments of previous interpreters of the tales, and demonstrates how they missed the Grimms' intention. His own readings of the five so-called "magical" tales reveal them as the beautiful and inspiring "documents of faith" that the Grimms meant them to be.
Offering an entirely new perspective on these often-analyzed tales, Murphy's book will appeal to those concerned with the moral and religious education of children, to students and scholars of folk literature and children's literature, and to the many general readers who are captivated by fairy tales and their meanings.

Recenzje

Murphy has added several dazzling layers of meaning to the tales.

O autorze

Ronald Murphy is George M. Roth Distinguished Professor of German at Georgetown University.