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Essay on the theme "Tales of Charles Perot"

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Опубликовано: 09.03.2023, 14:13

Автор: МБЦ

Text by Anastasia Alexandrova

Translated fairy tales of the peoples of foreign countries introduce the child to a world that is not like the one that Russian fairy tales habitually reproduce with their far-off kingdom, the far-off state, Baba Yaga, Koshchei the immortal, etc. At the same time, like our fairy tales, the fairy tales of foreign countries recreate the world, although fictional, but fundamentally real. The fairy tales of the French writer Charles Perrault are among the best examples of world fairy-tale literature, without acquaintance with which it is impossible to bring up children in a versatile way.

Each of Perrault's fairy tales ends with a moral in verse, which, as it were, brings the fairy tale closer to the fable genre. Many fairy tales end with "unequal" marriages. Patience and diligence, meekness and obedience receive the highest reward from Perrault. Each fairy tale by Charles Perrault shines with its own invention, and the real world is reflected in the fairy tale by one side or the other. Charles Perrault's fairy tales about the Sleeping Beauty, about Bluebeard, about the Boy with a finger and others, more complex in the figurative system, children usually turn to in the first school years.

Sometimes Perrault reveals the darkest sides of his contemporary reality. The woodcutter and his large family live in poverty and starve. Only once did they manage to have a hearty dinner, when "the seigneur sent ten crowns that he owed them for a long time, and they no longer even hoped to receive them" ("Tom Thumb"). Puss in Boots intimidates peasants with the formidable name of an imaginary feudal lord: "Good people, reapers! If you do not say that all these fields belong to Monsieur the Marquis de Carabas, then you will all be chopped up like a pie filling!" The fairy-tale world of Perrault, for all its apparent naivety, is complex and deep enough to captivate not only the imagination of a child, but also to influence an adult reader. So, the fairy tale "Riquet with a tuft" is distinguished by a psychologically subtle and serious plan. After the release of Perrault's collection, a real fashion for a literary fairy tale was established in France. Perrault had a noticeable influence on the subsequent development of European fairy-tale literature.

Perrault's fairy tales continue to be published in new editions for children of preschool and primary school age in our time. They still excite young readers with their fabulous stories and heroes.

"The Sleeping Beauty"

Информация о материале: Опубликовано: 09.03.2023, 14:11; Автор: МБЦ

Essay by Melania Prosyankina

“Liberty, equality, fraternity” is a motto known to everyone nowadays, as it reflects the principles of most modern societies and countries. However, our character was not familiar with it, and would have probably condemn us of lacking Catholic and monarchical faith. Charles Perrault… An inarguable name of a brilliant story-teller and founder of the genre of fairy tales. In this work we are going to consider the reminiscence of his original masterpieces in a contemporary culture with an example of “The Sleeping Beauty”.

Fairy tales are usually conceived as a childish genre today, though initially they belong to folklore. Furthermore, some tales we are aware of often have nothing to do with neither juvenile literature, nor folk. Perrault's works are debatable in this regard, as the end of the 17^th century was an epoch when preciosity was inseparable from aristocracy, thus allowing infamous salon writers to modify the folk versions beyond recognition. Nevertheless, those literary tales were constructed to ironically and wittily to entertain and convey Christian morality to the audience.

The plot of “The Sleeping Beauty” has found a lot of reproductions, including Disney's interpretation about a princess who can be saved by genuine mutual love. In this case, the second part of the original tale is forgotten by the public, which obstructs the freedom of interpretation and makes the story disconnected from its values. Perrault's “beauty” is concerned not by love, but by the questions of male authority and female penance. For instance, the authentic version does not ends by the awakening: the prince has two children with the Beauty. Some differences in meaning can be noticed by means of comparison with those who had influenced Perrault religiously.

Tertullian in particular had been the one who played a tremendous role in the writer's conception of women and their relation to disobedience and sin. In his work “ The Apparel” he states that women should not wear fine clothing, but they should dress "in mourning garments ... acting the part of mourning and repentant Eve in order to expiate more fully by all sorts of penitential garb that which woman derives from Eve…” These ideas can be found in an authentic text of Perrault’s tale. In the beginning the princess is blessed by six fairies to be “ the most beautiful person in the world”, to “ have the disposition of an angel”, to “sing like a nightingale” etc. However, after the hundred-year-sleep there is no description of her at all, as she has passed through a process of purification that redeems the inherent sin and renders her powerless and completely subordinate to male power and authority.

The second part of “ The sleeping beauty” considers the opposition of “good” and “evil” women through antithesis of the princess and her mother-in-law. In modern interpretations it is jealousy that impels the Evil to send the Beauty to sleep. However, Perrault had depicted the queen-mother's motive to kill her grandchildren as her ogress-urge to devour them. At the end, the Evil hurls herself in the pot with “ repulsive reptiles” and dies. The figure of the mother-in-law is still open to interpret.

To conclude, I would like to emphasize that Perrault has been a crucial part of our culture, and if not based on folklore, has become one today. His works may cause lots of discussions among many groups, his morals might be controversial, but as responsible and mindful reader one should take into account not the modern vision, but the specific context. Only then one can truly enjoy and find something renewed in the well-known works by Charles Perrault.

"The Little Thumb"

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Опубликовано: 09.03.2023, 14:09

Автор: МБЦ

Essay by Anastasia Zueva

Charles Perrault was a French author known for his contributions to the literary world of fairy tales. His works, including my favorite "Little Thumb", are widely popular and have been translated into numerous languages. "Little Thumb" is a story about a young boy who uses his cleverness and nimble mind to trick a group of thieves and return safely home with his siblings. This fairy tale is not only entertaining but also has several valuable lessons that both children and adults can learn from.

The story begins with Little Thumb and his six brothers who are left to themselves when their parents are having difficult times. Going through a series of failures, Little Thumb finds himself kidnapped by a hungry ogre who plans to eat him and his brothers. However, Little Thumb's quick thinking and clever tricks help him to fool the ogre and lead his brothers to safety.

One of the main themes of "Little Thumb" is the importance of cleverness. The story shows that even the smallest and seemingly weakest individuals can overcome great challenges if they use their skills. This is a valuable lesson for children who may feel powerless in certain situations and need to learn how to use their cleverness to solve problems.

Another important lesson from "Little Thumb" is the value of family and the importance of looking out for each other. The main character, despite his small size, shows a great deal of bravery in his efforts to protect his siblings, which can inspire children and adults to value their own family.

Moreover, the fairy tale is also an entertaining read that captures the imagination of readers of all ages. The story is filled with different amazing descriptions of characters and events, and the narrative is entertaining and easy to follow.

In conclusion, Charles Perrault's "Little Thumb"is a wonderful fairy tale that has entertained and educated readers for centuries. It's interesting storyline, memorable characters, and valuable lessons make it an enjoyable read for both children and adults and leaves a lasting impression on anyone who reads.