Fairy tales teach us a lot
For hundreds of years, and perhaps even thousands of years, adults have tolc traditional fairy tales to their children. The stories have been handed down froir. one generation to another. They have become a fundamental part of our culture
In early versions of fairy tales there is much more cruelty and violence thar in the stories published for children today. The case of ‘Cinderella’ is a goo example.
In this variant, Cinderella’s step-sisters are very pretty (rather than ugly, as the; are in the modern version). But they are much more cruel. Cinderella works lik- a slave and has no bed to sleep in. Her step-sisters throw her food into the fire. Cinderella has to pick it out of the fire-place so that she can eat.
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The prince comes looking for Cinderella bringing with him the golden shoe th Cinderella was wearing. Cinderella’s sisters try on the shoe but it doesn’t fi: To make it fit, one sister cuts off her toes*; the other cuts off her heel*. The: mother says: “You won’t need to walk when you become queen!”
Eventually, the prince finds Cinderella and the story ends happily.
Even if there is violence and cruelty in fairy stories, they all have element that make them forever popular. They are simple stories which usually involv some form of cruelty or injustice. Good people become victims* and must wor- impossibly hard to try to solve their problems and find happiness. Children wh identify with the hero or heroine may sometimes be encouraged to try to fin solutions to their own problems. In any case, the stories have a happy endin. and give children great pleasure.
Are fairy tales part of our culture? Read aloud the extract which says about it.
What happens in the old version of "Cinderella"?
Why do people like fairy tales?
*-
:ead the review and say in 2—3 sentences what it is
about.
HAVE YOU READ?..
tol Children’s writer Michael Morpurgo tells a very enjoyable story. If you have not
n frorr yet discovered his books, you will be surprised. The Amazing Story of Adolphus
□Iture Tips, for example, was published earlier this year.
e tha: Lily Tregenze who is 12, lives on a farm in the village of Slapton with her mother
a goo. and grandfather. It’s 1943, the middle of the Second World War, and her father
is away in the army. Lily’s life centres on her local school, currently filled with 1S ^ people from London sent to the country for safety, and Tips, her beloved cat.
ks likt Tips keeps having kittens. But one of Lily’s parents always drowns the kittens,
ie fire to Lily’s despair, because they cannot keep and feed a lot of cats.
Then, when they have to move to their Uncle George’s farm to make way for the ce ca: army, Tips disappears. For months it is only the kindness of a young American
lerell. soldier and his army friend who help Lily search for her cat, that helps her get
and : through the many changes and challenges in her life. And there’s a lovely twist
) when at the end — which I shan’t spoil for you — as the story shoots forward 60 years,
alls ia If you like The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips then you will probably also
enjoy Michael Morpurgo’s Kensuke’s Kingdom, Billy the Kid, Private Peaceful >e tha; and many others.
n’t fit a ^ .-rare Michael was Children’s Laureate* from 2003 to 2005, an honour which involves
Theii telling as many people as possible how important children and children’s
______ books are. He followed Quentin Blake and Anne Fine. Jacqueline Wilson was
Children’s Laureate until 2007.
meni: As well as being an author, Michael Morpurgo, with his wife Clare, runs a
lvolvf charity called Farms for City Children. It enables groups of children to holiday
t work in Devon, in the south west of England, or Wales.
n whc The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips by Michael Morpurgo. Published in hardback
o fine , by Harper Collins. Due out in paperback in February 2006. Also available as an
'ndi ng audiobook, set of 3 CDs read by Michael Morpurgo and actress Jenny Agutter.
Duration three hours.