History of Fairy Tales within Victorian Society Essay

At the beginning of the nineteenth century, Puritans viewed fairy tales as inappropriate literature because they believed fairy tales to be a form of witchcraft. The attitude toward fairy tales soon changed when the Brothers Grimm published their two-volume collection called Kinderund Hausmarchen or German Popular Stories. Overnight, fairy tales became an acceptable form of literature. This sudden popularity raises some related questions: What are the reasons behind the increased popularity of fairy tales? What function did fairy tales play in Victorian society? Is there a connection between fairy tales and the Victorian social issues? This paper will examine the discourse of fairy tales through a historical lens to reveal how the†¦show more content†¦Puritans were distrustful of fairy tales because they â€Å"corrupt English citizens with their unrealistic† (Evans and Onorato 1) views of life although the tales promoted Christianity and Christian values of the church . Toward the end of the nineteenth century, fairy tales re-emerge from the underground in England due to the Romantics Movement who began to revalue imagination and fantasy. Different from the scientific and rational thought of the Enlightenment, the Romantic Movement emphasized emotion, passion, love, and fear, an environment in which fairy tales would thrive. The Romantic Movement questions the social constraints of the Puritan society that served as the catalyst for the rise of the fairy tale genre in England. Fairy tales and their symbolism provided the Romantics the opportunity and freedom to challenge the perceptions of the practical and traditional religion. As the industrial revolution progressed, Victorians became aware of the power that fairy tales have as the voice of the people, questioning the established rules, government, and industry believed to improve their lives. Not until the publication of the German Popular Stories which challenged the anti-fairy tale movement did fairy tales become an acceptable literary form. Victorian citizens realized that the stringent rules, training, and literature used to fashion healthy adults were â€Å"dulling their senses andShow MoreRelatedThe Lady Of Shalott Essay1059 Words   |  5 Pagessocial change. Nevertheless it wasn’t until the 1800s that widespread awareness began to st ir for women’s rights. So it was little wonder that the rapidly growing controversy embedded itself into much of the Victorian literature. Writer Lord Alfred Tennyson used a romanticized time in history to highlight a political issue of his era. Chivalry and knights are commonly associated with this time by modern readers, creating the ideal contrast for Tennyson’s literary work. 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