Genre Essays

Fairytales are typically improbable stories, which tend to consist of fantastical elements and occurrences. It is a tale involving a series of motifs that take place in an unreal world, involving individualized characters with developed or flat personalities. In the novel, Silas Marner, it is evident that fairytale tends to conquer realism. Thus, Silas Marner […]

After having read the passage several times, it is comprehensible that the evident meaning of it is what she (the young woman about to marry) feels, thinks and experiences in this new phase of her life. The themes are the ones of apparent love, which suggests that the proceedings in this passage are only superficial […]

This adaptation of Little Red Riding Hood and werewolf mythology explores the horror and sexuality of fairytales. The girl, Little Red Riding Hood, weaves a series of complex fantasies revealing her confusion about men, sexuality and desire. Little Red Riding Hood is a young girl in the story who is only just becoming a woman. […]

Vladimir Propp, a Russian literary theorist and critic, carried out an analysis of one hundred Russian folk tales in the 1920s. Published in 1928, The Morphology of the Folk Tale by Propp revealed a standard set of character classifications applicable to characters in traditional fantasy stories. Propp’s theory accurately predicted the role of these characters […]

Start the story with “Once upon a time” enclosed in a tag. “It has been said…” or perhaps “In a galaxy far, far away…” Long ago, it is believed that ancient people gathered around a fire to entertain each other with tales. As each story was told, someone was inspired to tell another, each one […]

The story of Psyche and Cupid revolves around a woman named Psyche1, whose exceptional beauty is famous worldwide. “However, the youngest’s beauty was so perfect that even human language could not describe it or praise it adequately”2. Psyche’s attractiveness becomes so overwhelming that she receives more attention than Venus, the goddess of love and beauty. […]

The story of “Shrek”, the reversal of a traditional fairy tale, uses presentational devices to reverse the audience’s expectations. “Shrek” has been described as “the best fairytale never told” this would indicate to the audience that they are in for a real treat. What this statement does not tell the viewer is of the unusual […]

Films are narratives – they tell stories. Even films based on true events will fictionalise them to make in order to produce drama, to telescope time, to avoid being filled with too many minor characters, or simply to be more entertaining. Films are usually summarised by their plots – in their first ‘treatment’ (or outline […]

The act of assigning a genre to films, books, or plays implies a predetermined formula for their content and narrative structure, ultimately aiming for success. Genres offer an initial indication of the story’s essence through its first image, graphic, or letter on screen. This essay will compare the opening sequences of two fantasy adventure movies […]

Fairytales occupy a very important part of both children’s literature and indeed their education. They can be fantastical and contain hidden morals which may be used by adults to warn children of dangers in society “the entire story is usually made to demonstrate a moral point” (Bottigheimer. 152). In today’s society fairytales are often associated […]

What is a fairytale? Most people would say a fairytale is a magical adventure story, were anything is possible. A damsel in distress trapped by an evil witch (or other nasty creatures such as a dragon) is rescued by a daring prince on a magnificent steed. A fairytale that fits this perception is Rapunzel who […]

For centuries, parents have told enchanting stories to their children about magic and the fulfillment of wishes. These fairy tales have been passed down through oral tradition as well as written books. As societies change over time, fairy tales also adapt in order to convey the values and morals that they wish to impart on […]

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, by the British author Roald Dahl, is considered one of the children’s classic literature book. It was published by the first time in 1964 in the United States, and even there are several films versions based in the book. However, it is still a matter to determine the genre it […]

The Red Shoes, directed by the marquee team of Michael Powell and Emeric Presssburger is an important film of British Cinema. One of the early exponents of Technicolor brilliance, the film is an exposition on use of light and colour for cinematic effect. Cinematographically the film is quite brilliant and a rich source for studying […]

How can someone pursue a personal desire if they spent their life trying to conform? Alden Nowlan’s short story, “The Glass Roses” explores this through the protagonist, Stephen. Stephen’s personal desire to feel accepted conflicts with his feeling of having to become like the pulp cutters because he is not mentally or physically ready to […]

Duffy has successfully written about childhood and the loss of innocence in ‘little red cap’, discuss with detail reference to the poem and how Duffy has used imagery, syntax and structure effectively in the poem. Little Red Cap is written by Carol Ann Duffy and it is taken from her feminist collection ‘The World’s Wife […]

From the 1700’s to today, many fairy tales have grown, changed, and taken on different meanings. Children are most commonly told the Disney versions because they do not contain the violence, sexualization, or the objectifications that the original versions had. The versions that were originally told contained all three of those characteristics. In every fairy […]

‘Oranges are Not the Only Fruit’ is a novel which often uses allegory to create depth and meaning to the novel by blurring the line between fact and fiction. The use of allegory adds to our understanding of ‘Oranges’ as a whole in many different ways. Allegories are used within ‘Oranges are not the Only […]

In her novel, Jane Yolen utilizes various forms and techniques to communicate different ideas about the Holocaust, humanity, and storytelling. It is crucial to grasp the significance of this book in order to fully comprehend it. Yolen employs an unconventional structure that engages readers in the quest to unveil Briar Rose’s authentic history. In her […]

One of the first things children are exposed to is the well-known fairy tales written by the Grimm Brothers or Hans Christian Anderson. These tales portray the story of a heroic, strong, and powerful man saving the weak, dependent, damsel in distress. As expressed by Leslee Kuyendal and Brian Sturem in their article “We Said […]

In the text Norton Fairy Tales, multiple versions of the “Red Riding Hood” stories depict the evolution of gender roles and stereotypes in society, as well as the existence and advantageous characteristics of real life evil. In all the variations of the “Red Riding Hood” story, there exists an evil character that attempts to take […]

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is a formulaic fairy tale with its typical events and characters, but consists of the hidden theme of women being inferior to men and symbols and themes expressing how outer beauty is usually chosen over inner beauty in modern time. Whether this impression of present time is considered to […]