Fairy tales are an integral part of our lives. They are read by children and adults, they teach and develop our imagination. "Snow White and Little Red Riding Hood" is one of my favorite childhood fairy tales - it leaves a feeling of warmth and harmony, gives the reader confidence that good always wins.
According to Maria Luisa von Franz, interpreting fairy tales is a whole art that is mastered gradually with practice. Fairy tales can be interpreted in different ways; they depend on the four functions of consciousness. The "thinking type" will emphasize structure and how all the motifs in the text are connected. The "feeling" type will arrange these motifs according to a scale of values. The "feeling type" will observe the symbols and uncover their full meaning. And the "intuitive type" will see the same symbols not in isolation but in their unity. People who have developed intuition understand the tale as a unified message containing multiple aspects. Therefore, in interpreting fairy tales, it is recommended to use all functions.
The opening words of the tale introduce a fantastic space where the maidens' cozy little house stands, with the two rose bushes out front, the forest full of juicy strawberries and friendly animals. The home is a safe and cozy space. The dangers, but at the same time the growth of the two heroines, take place in the woods. There they meet their enemy (the dwarf), but also see the bear again, who becomes a prince.
Almost all fairy tales have a similar structure - a denouement, peripeteia (unexpected abrupt changes in the action, there may be one or several), a climax (the moment when the whole plot of the tale is resolved, the tension is at its highest point) and then usually a denouement (finale). The denouement determines the outcome of the events - positive or negative.
In this tale, there are four permutations ( the appearance of the bear + the three encounters with the dwarf).
The climax (killing the dwarf and breaking the spell)
The happy ending (double wedding) - harmonious union of masculine and feminine, achieving balance
The tale has a specific structure - it is set in a "happiness frame". The first picture is that of family idyll, of harmony with nature. Then there is the encounter with the bear, which is only frightening at first , but then blends in blissfully with the atmosphere of tranquility. The parting with the bear in the spring and the sisters' three trials (peripeteia) with the dwarf create a situation of mild anxiety, which melts away, however, in the happy finale of the tale - the wonderful transformation of the bear into a handsome prince and the double wedding.
If we pay attention to the number of characters at the beginning and end of the tale, we can also draw valuable conclusions. We have a trio at the beginning (two daughters + mother), but the father is missing. Throughout the tale, the female lead predominates. She gives warmth, care, salvation - warms the bear in the cold bitter winter, saves the dwarf from certain death. Yet the reader intuitively senses that the lack of the masculine in the tale is a problem. In the finale of the text, the male element is restored and the situation is rebalanced - two couples and above them is the mother protector. Put another way, the number 'three' at the beginning is transformed into 'five', but it can also be seen as 4+1=5. Each of these numbers has its own meaning and if we look at the history of culture symbolizes a kind of completion,carries a mystical message. Three, for example, is immediately associated with the holy trinity, four - with the directions of the world, evangelists, etc. The final five, which is particularly important in this case, is associated with health, love, the five elements. It symbolizes the five major planets, the rhythm of nature, the cosmic order.
The figure of the mother in the tale is not central - it is rather archetypal (the Great Mother, the Virgin Mary...). She is the nurturer, the protector and the wise woman. The mother is the one who takes care of order and harmony in the family. The two girls are beautiful just like the two roses - red and white. The rose also symbolizes love. The white color reminds of the divine, peace, purity and goodness. Red is a symbol of passionate love, blood, strong emotions and of life itself. The two maidens are ideal images of hardworking and pretty girls who also have their own personality.
When children listen to fairy tales, they identify with some of the characters in them. Maria Luisa von Franz gives the example of the "ugly duckling" - children who have an inferiority complex and are waiting for the miraculous transformation feel it. The fairy tale provides a life-affirming role model that, on a subconscious level, reminds people of their limitless possibilities in life. The girls , listening to this tale, take a liking to one of the sisters and fantasize over her image with pleasure.
The feminine, embodied by the sisters and the mother, is usually associated with feelings, imagination, the irrational, the intuitive. The appearance of the sword is in some ways expected - as if provoked by ancient divination, when maidens gather and want to know when they will marry . He is the missing masculine element, the libido, albeit for now in its animal form. His antipode is the dwarf - he is also a male image, but entirely negative. He carries within him greed and malice. This is the identical image of the witch, Grandmother Yaga in fairy tales. She is associated with the chthonic world, lives underground, casts evil spells and steals other people's wealth. In summary, the prince-bear and the ungrateful dwarf are two sides of masculinity.
The bear is an anthropomorphic image, which is quite common in fairy tales. According to many researchers, animal tales are one of the oldest types of mythological stories. They are more easily accepted and liked by children at a very young age. The symbol of the bear carries with it the idea of good-naturedness, great strength and slight clumsiness. It is sometimes associated with malice and greed ( in the tale I am looking at the dwarf takes on this role) He is the king of beasts and a totem that represents the connection between earth and heaven. It is often considered the animal ancestor of man. Shamans use a bear mask to contact evil spirits. In many cults, the name of the bear is taboo. It is the master of the forest. The image of the bear is also associated with the idea of the change of seasons. The rebirth of the prince (king) occurs in spring. The spell is broken, he sheds his fur and can now fully perform his functions as king - he dies and is reborn.
From the very beginning of the tale we feel the message of unconditional love between the sisters, their closeness and inseparability:
"The two sisters loved each other so much that when they went out together they always held hands.
Snow White used to say:
- We will not part.
The robin replied:
- While we are alive.
And their mother added:
- Whatever one has must be shared with the other."
.
From the quote, it can be seen that the girls have a very strong bond with each other, which is reinforced by the mother. This tale helps to overcome the competition between sisters, it shows that love between close people is the most important thing. The fairy story teaches us that it is necessary to help parents. The girls are good hostesses and joyful, bright natures. They are also taught by their mother not to be indifferent to strangers who are in a difficult situation. Moreover, the pleasure principle and the necessity principle in this tale are not contradictory but complementary. They seem to go hand in hand, like the two hardworking maidens. The fairy tale ends with the victory of good, the desire for a complete family is realized.
Practical work with the fairy tale "Snow White and Red Riding Hood" can ask a variety of questions to think about.
How would you feel in a given situation?
For example:
Which of the sisters' activities is closest to your heart?
Why do the sisters get attached to the bear?
Would you help the dwarf the next time if he was rude to you?
Which of the girls is your favorite?
What is the feeling that Snow felt when she parted with the bear?
What is your favorite moment from the story?
When have you feared something in vain? Et al.
You can disassemble the text (a similar technique as in dreams) into main moments and draw different places and characters from it, for example - the house, the forest, the beautiful dresses of the girls from the wedding...
The victory of good over evil is important because it sustains faith and the pursuit of cultivation. The most valuable things are achieved through trials, and what is easily gained can quickly disappear. This idea is fundamental to the formation of purpose and patience. We have many helpers around, but they only come when we cannot handle the situation or task on our own. This understanding is important in forming a sense of self-reliance and also of trust in the world around us. A world filled with hardships but also so much beauty.
Bibliography:
"The Psychology of Fairy Tales" Maria Luisa von Franz
"A Workshop in Fairy Tale Therapy" T.D. Zinkevich-Evstigneeva.
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