fairy tales and popular fiction
And they lived happily ever after! This is the classic ending to the majority of fairy tales that children listen to growing up. For those that heard these tales, few can deny that their visions of the future and reality were not, at least in part, influenced by fairy tales. Young boys dream of when they will slay their first dragon or monster, while young girls envision the prince charming that will one day ride in and whisk them away. Although much of this influence is quite innocent, there are some stereotypes imbedded in fairy tales that have been passed through the generations. Specifically, there has been a tradition of portraying women in a negative fashion. The Grimm Brothers' version of Hansel and Gretel exemplifies some of these portrayals including the stereotypical role of the evil stepmother, the role of the wicked witch, how children are easily victimized, and the role of passive female heroines. Rare amongst fairy tales, Hansel and Gretel, also demonstrates the active role of female heroines, but only under restricted conditions. These stereotypes are seen throughout the story.
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Some common words found in the essay are:
Hansel Gretel, Wives' Tales, Fairy Tales, Witch Evil, fairy tales, hansel gretel, evil stepmother, Evil Stepmother, Grimm Brothers', Women Women, wicked witch, stepmother associated, stepmothers wicked, female heroines, children fear, absent mother, real mother,
Approximate Word count = 844
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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