Short Readings in Fairy Tales, Aesop’s Fables, and excerpts from "1001 Arabian Nights" online – Study questions
  1. Grimm Fairy Tales: 1. "The Three Spinners"
  1. What’s the tale’s attitude toward labor?
  2. Folk tales often make use of 3’s in their structure. How does that apply here? Name other examples from tales. Why might the no. 3 be used so frequently?
  3. Find other elements here in common with other fairy tales you know.
    1. "The Three Languages"
  1. Is the father-son conflict here like the mother-daughter one above?
  2. Are there other parallels with #1 above?
  3. The Bible is a rich source of literary allusions and archetypes. Look for biblical elements in this tale.
  4. Treasure is a frequent element of fairy tales. What’s its role here?
  5. What is the definition of intelligence in this work?
  6. What is te role of nature? How do fairy tale humans interact with nature?
  1. Aesop’s Fables: "The Wolf and the Lamb" through "The Cock and the Jewel."
  1. Find typical traits of 3 animals (e.g. foxes are sly).
  2. Apply animal traits to human civilization.
  3. The moral of the fable of the ass and the grasshopper is_________.
  4. Do you know any other "odd couple" stories? (e.g. an elephant + another animal)
  5. Translate the last one "The Cock and the Jewel" into human terms.
  1. "100l Arabian Nights": 1. Introduction and Summary: Read these to form a basis for comparison with Candide—the type of adventures, and the number of tales and characters.
  1. "The First Kalandar’s Tale" What happens to the narrator with the change of regime? The role of death? Is there any deeper meaning?
3. "Conclusion" What’s Sheherezade’s reward for being a good story teller? In what sense is everything neatly settled, loose ends tied up? Why were so many other women murdered?

Return to FL 209 syllabus
2 Jan 2001