Rel 90-10; CRN 5318
4 Credits
MWF 9:10-10:00 
Professor Chava Weissler
 

Folktales and Fairy Tales: The Oral Tradition

Such full-length animated films as “Beauty and the Beast” and “Aladdin” have been huge box-office successes.  These films are based on tales that go back ultimately to the oral tradition of storytelling, both in Europe and other parts of the world.  What accounts for the enduring popularity of these stories?  Do these ancient tales still shape our world-view today?  The seminar will examine classic tales from the European literary fairy tale tradition, exploring how they address such themes as beauty and ugliness, the quest of the hero, and the sleeping princess.  We will also read tales collected from oral tradition among Europeans and other cultural groups, and compare their treatment of these themes to literary tales. Members of the class will have a chance to learn and perform stories.  In the course of the semester we hope to gain a sense of the beauty and power of the art of storytelling

Course materials

These are some of the books usually used in the course:
Tatar, Maria., ed.  The Classic Fairy Tales.
Zipes, Jack, comp.  The Trials and Tribulations of Little Red Riding Hood.
Bettelheim, Bruno.  The Uses of Enchantment.
MacDonald, Margaret.  The Storyteller Start-up Book.
Reneaux, J.J.  Cajun Folktales (book and audiocassette).

Required assignments

Early in the semester, each student selects a folk or fairy tale that holds his or her interest.  The student will work with this tale in a variety of ways throughout the semester.  Each student is required to write a research paper about the tale he or she has picked.  In addition, each student is required to choose at least two of the following three assignments:  1) an oral presentation about the tale; 2) an oral performance of the tale; and 3) a creative retelling of the tale in written form, either prose or poetry. There will be other short written assignments, and a group presentation. There will be no in-class exams.

Chava Weissler has loved folk and fairy tales since childhood.  In high school, because she was afraid that oral tradition was dying out, she learned her first tale for oral performance.  Later she went on to get a Ph. D. in Folklore and Folklife at the University of Pennsylvania, specializing in Jewish folklore.  She still occasionally gives public performances of folktales.  At Lehigh she teaches courses on Jewish studies, including Jewish folklore and folk tales.