Fairy Tales: Meanings, Messages, and Morals

Discover the fascinating circumstances and meanings behind fairy tales

On this course, you will look deeper into the enchanting and surprisingly dark themes of several well-known European fairy tales.

What were the authors thinking? What were the cultural and personal concerns that have shaped these stories? What are the readers being asked to believe?

By considering the historical context of fairy tales and examining the characters, styles, and plots, you will discover that the intended morals of the original stories may not be exactly what you first thought.

Recommended for learners age 15+

This course is for anyone interested in fairy tales and literary analysis, including reading enthusiasts, storytellers, and creative writers.

• Reading “Little Red Riding Hood”
• Once Upon a Time...
• Red Riding Who?
• Authors and Readers
• Wearing a Different Hat
• The Moral of the Story
• The Idea of Beauty
• Have You Seen?
• The Forming of Beauty
• Virtues
• An Enchanting Ending
• The Enigma of "Blue Beard"
• There Once Was...
• The Horrors Within
• Whose Fault Is This?
• Ever After