FAIRY TALES

The fairy tale is a classic literary genre that has endured over time due to its ability to
convey values, teach lessons, and captivate with its imaginary world. Let’s study the main
characteristics of the fairy tale, its structure, themes, style, and narrative resources.

Characteristics of Fairy Tales:

1.​ Fantastic Elements:

○​ Fairy tales are filled with supernatural elements such as fairies, wizards,
fantastic creatures (dragons, elves, goblins, etc.), magical objects, and
extraordinary events that do not occur in the real world.
2.​ Archetypal Characters:
○​ The characters are often archetypal and easily recognizable, such as the
hero or heroine (often a young man or woman), the curse or antagonist
(evil witch, monster, etc.), and the secondary characters like the wise old
man (wizard or elder) or the good fairy.
3.​ Moral or Lesson:
○​ Fairy tales usually carry a clear moral lesson, such as the importance of
kindness, justice, perseverance, or the fight against evil.
4.​ Magical Environments:
○​ The settings are often fantastical places like enchanted forests, castles,
distant kingdoms, and magical lands. These places are full of mystery and
danger.

Structure of a Fairy Tale:

1.​ Introduction:
○​ The main characters and the context of the story are introduced. Often, the
beginning includes typical phrases such as "Once upon a time..." or "In a
distant kingdom...", establishing the fantastical tone of the narrative.
 2.​ Conflict Presentation:
○​ The protagonist faces a problem or challenge, generally related to a curse, an
evil enemy, or a special mission they must complete.
3.​ Development:
○​ The protagonist embarks on a journey or a series of trials to resolve the
conflict. During this time, they may receive help from magical characters or
overcome difficulties.
4.​ Climax:
○​ The moment of highest tension in the story, where the protagonist must face
the final adversity (the witch, the monster, the magical test) to resolve the
conflict.
5.​ Conclusion:
○​ The conflict is resolved, usually in a positive way, and order and justice are
restored. The protagonist receives a reward or achieves the "happy ending"
(getting married, obtaining riches, or simply finding peace).

Common Themes in Fairy Tales:

1.​ Good vs. Evil:

○​ Fairy tales often show a struggle between the forces of good (heroes,
princesses, kind beings) and evil (witches, monsters, wicked villains).

2.​ Magical Transformations:

○​ It is common for characters to undergo transformations, whether physical
(e.g., turning into a frog) or circumstantial, which reflect personal growth or a
change in their destiny.
3.​ True Love:
○​ Love is often a central theme, especially true love, whether in the form of a
princess rescued by a prince or love that overcomes adversity.
4.​ Personal Growth:
○​ Many fairy tales focus on the transformation of the protagonist through the
overcoming of trials and obstacles, leading them to mature and learn valuable
lessons about life.
5.​ Justice and Reward:
○​ Heroes and heroines are generally rewarded for their goodness and bravery,
while villains are punished for their evil deeds. This reflects an idealized view
of the world, where good always triumphs.

Style of Fairy Tales:

1.​ Symbolic and Simple Language:

○​ The style is generally simple but filled with symbolism and
metaphors. It uses accessible language for all ages but with a
poetic and mysterious tone.
 2.​ Omniscient Narrator:
○​ The narrator is typically omniscient, meaning they know all the thoughts and
feelings of the characters and have a total view of the story’s development.
The narrator is not part of the story but guides the reader through it.
3.​ Rhythm and Repetition:
○​ Fairy tales often have a rhythm marked by repetitive phrases (such as "Once
upon a time...", "and they lived happily ever after") that give the story a sense
of familiarity and closure.
4.​ Simplicity:
○​ The narration tends to be direct and clear, without complicated structures,
which allows the central message of the story to be easily understood.

Common Narrative Resources:

1.​ Personification:
○​ Non-human elements, such as animals, trees, or natural elements, often have
human characteristics. For example, a wolf may talk, or a tree may offer
advice to the protagonist.
2.​ Hyperbole:
○​ Exaggerations are used to make the story more impactful, such as describing
the beauty of a princess or the evilness of a villain in extreme terms.
3.​ Symbolism:
○​ Many objects or events carry symbolic meaning. For example, crystal may
symbolize purity, poison may represent evil, and magical objects often have
deep power.
4.​ Metaphors:
○​ Metaphors are used to enrich the narrative. For example, the "dark forest" is
not only a physical place but also symbolizes danger and uncertainty.
5.​ Direct Dialogue:
○​ Characters often have direct dialogues with each other that help advance the
plot and characterize their personalities, such as the demands of the villain or
the advice of the wise old man.

Analysis of the Breakdown of the Typical Fairy Tale in Shrek:

Shrek (2001), the animated film directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky
Jenson, is a clear subversion of the traditional fairy tale genre. This film not
only plays with classic fairy tale elements but also subverts and presents them
in a humorous and critical way. Below is a detailed analysis of how Shrek
breaks away from the conventional elements of a fairy tale:

1. Subversion of Archetypal Characters:

In traditional fairy tales, characters often fit into certain archetypes:

 ●​ The beautiful princess who waits to be rescued.
●​ The charming prince who saves the damsel in distress.
●​ The evil villain who creates conflicts.

In Shrek, these archetypes are inverted:

●​ Shrek, the protagonist, is an ugly and grumpy ogre who breaks the mold of the
"ideal" and attractive hero. Instead of being the perfect prince, he is a character who
is rejected by society due to his appearance.
●​ Fiona, the princess, is the complete opposite of the delicate, traditional princess.
While she starts as a fairy tale princess who seems to need rescuing, she is revealed
to be a strong, determined woman. Moreover, her transformation into an ogre at the
end of the movie challenges the norm that princesses must always be beautiful and
perfect.
●​ The charming prince in Shrek, rather than being an idealized hero, is in fact a
secondary, shallow, and selfish character (Lord Farquaad), who seeks to marry Fiona
not out of true love but out of a desire for power and to meet external expectations.

2. The Breakdown of the "Happily Ever After":

In traditional fairy tales, the "happily ever after" is based on the

realization of an idealized romantic love and the restoration of social
order. In Shrek, the happy ending is completely different:

●​ Instead of a superficial love between a prince and a princess,

Shrek and Fiona find their happiness by embracing their
imperfections. Fiona does not become the "perfect princess" for Shrek, nor does
Shrek become the ideal prince for Fiona. The love between them is based on mutual
acceptance of their differences and the authenticity of who they truly are.
●​ Fiona, in her ogre form, finds her true love, which emphasizes the idea that beauty is
not the most important thing, and that the real "happily ever after" is based on
self-acceptance.

3. The Inversion of Traditional Values:

Traditional fairy tales often present traditional values such as purity, goodness, and
superficial beauty. In Shrek, these values are questioned and subverted:

●​ External beauty does not hold the same value it does in traditional fairy tales. Fiona,
despite being a princess, is not beautiful according to conventional standards, and
she is shown to be a strong woman who has her own insecurities.
●​ Superficial goodness is also questioned. Characters like Lord Farquaad, who
represents the typical charming prince (and in fact is the closest to the "ideal"
physical prince in fairy tales), is the villain of the story, showing that appearance is
not what defines a person.

4. The Parody of Classic Fairy Tale Elements:

Shrek is an explicit parody of fairy tales and plays with several of their common elements:
 ●​ The film begins with Shrek breaking the fourth wall and mocking the concept of the
traditional fairy tale. Instead of having a perfect and magical story, Shrek lives a
solitary life in his swamp, far from the conventions of classic tales.
●​ Popular songs and references to other fairy tales (like the princess, the dragon, and
the wizard) are filled with ironic and subversive humor. This turns Shrek into a fun
and modern critique of traditional narratives.

5. The Theme of Friendship and Family:

While traditional fairy tales focus primarily on romantic love, Shrek places greater emphasis
on the value of friendship and family:

●​ The friendship between Shrek and Donkey is one of the most important relationships
in the movie, and it highlights a genuine and heartwarming bond that goes beyond
romantic love.
●​ The relationship between Shrek and Fiona also reflects a non-traditional family,
showing that human (or ogre) connections can be much more meaningful than
societal expectations about perfect love.

6. The Shift in Perspective on "Bad Guys":

In traditional fairy tales, "bad guys" are clearly identifiable and always meet a tragic end. In
Shrek, the villain, Lord Farquaad, is portrayed in a caricatured and satirical manner, which
reduces the threat that villains typically pose in these stories. At the same time, it becomes
clear that true evil does not come from external monstrosity (like the ogre), but from
prejudice, superficiality, and unchecked ambition.