For more than 25 years Bruno Bettelheim has shared his original
observations on child development in numerous books and articles.
This book (parts of which appeared in The New Yorker) imaginatively
explores the importance of fairy tales in the young child's life
and the deeper meanings of some of the better-known stories. Fairy
tales are essential for children because they acknowledge that good
and evil are attractive, that struggle is a crucial part of human
existence, that there are advantages to moral behavior. They give
assurance that any person - however weak or small - can overcome
obstacles and find satisfaction in the effort. By simplifying
situations and characters, fairy tales speak directly to the
emotional and psychological core of the child. Repeatedly
Bettelheim Finds deep psychological significance in seemingly
random details: e.g., two brothers as one person with conflicting
desires, or a giant undone by a simpleton's cunning. Seeing that
story-problems can be resolved enables a child to act out his own
inner conflicts through a fantasy life structured and enriched by
literary analogy. Bettelheim looks closely at seven of the more
famous stories (Cinderella, Hansel and Gretel, Jack and the
Beanstalk, etc.) and at some of the tales featuring
transformations. As always, he writes with authority and a profound
respect for children. An invaluable reference for those involved
with children and their literature. (Kirkus Reviews)
The enchanted world of fairy tales has been an integral part of childhood for hundreds of years. But what do they really mean and what importance do they actually bear on our lives?
Dr Bettelheim in his thought-provoking and stimulating exploration of the best known stories casts a very interesting light on this subject. His belief that they represent a complex coping mechanism for children to deal with their struggling emotions and their anxieties regarding the outside world is fascinatingly argued in this prize winning work of criticism.
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