Hello.
My name is sarah. I was watching the bothers grim movie the other night and got really interested in fairy tails and nursery rhythms that have hidden meanings.
like i know the song ring around the rosie was really about a disease and how they actually used to burn people who had that.... hint the ashes ashes we all fall down part. and i also know something about Hansel and Gretel.. [if thats the correct spelling]
but i want more.......
i looked all over the internet but didnt find anything and hoped to have better luck here.
if anyone knows anything about this kinda thing please let me know. or if anyone could give me a link.
that would be helpful.
thank you!
,sarah
2007-02-27 16:09:55 · 7 answers · asked by cheerflyersrh 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Mythology & Folklore
Here is a link to nursery rhymes with their original meanings
http://www.rhymes.org.uk/
2007-02-27 16:18:08 · answer #1 · answered by BYO 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Try "The Uses of Enchantment: The Meaning and Importance of Fairy Tales" by Bruno Bettelheim. You can buy this book on Amazon. It's not new. You can get an inexpensive used copy.
Amazon info:
"Editorial Reviews
Book Description
The great child psychologist gives us a moving revelation of the enormous and irreplaceable value of fairy tales - how they educate, support and liberate the emotions of children. "
(Don't get the Novel by the same name by another author)
Amazon lists the following books also:
"Customers who bought this item also bought
The Interpretation of Fairy Tales by Marie-Louise von Franz
The Classic Fairy Tales: Texts, Criticism (Norton Critical Editions) by Maria M. Tatar
The Hard Facts of the Grimms' Fairy Tales by Maria Tatar
The Great Fairy Tale Tradition: From Straparola and Basile to the Brothers Grimm (Norton Critical Editions) by Jack Zipes
The Witch Must Die: The Hidden Meaning of Fairy Tales by Sheldon Cashdan "
2007-02-28 03:39:35 · answer #2 · answered by Roswellfan 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I do not know for sure as i am only passing on what i was told.
The story of Hansel and Gretel,is today considered a warning for kids to not stray far from home/ don't talk to strangers story.
However if read from the right viewpoint there are what might be veiled references to Cannibalism. Note the witch was preparing to eat the kids. Also they ended up cooking her did they not? pretty creepy lil kids hehe
2007-02-28 00:19:41 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A great place to find out more information about the fairy tales is to read the Grimm's fairy tales. They are more adult than the tales you hear as a kid, and there are lots of books out there that anaylize them. Also, try the book "The Brothers Grimm & Their Critics: Folktales and the Quest for Meaning" It should help a lot.
2007-02-28 00:17:10 · answer #4 · answered by Christina 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have a subscription to REALMS OF FANTASY magazine. They often have a column that talks about fairy tales and folk lore. You may want to look at some of their back issues.
2007-02-28 00:21:39 · answer #5 · answered by royalruby72 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ring around the Rosie, despite the great tale, is not about the Black Plague. Check dates on both and you will see it's impossible. There are many wonderful university courses on fairy tales if you are interested.
2007-02-28 01:00:38 · answer #6 · answered by balderarrow 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋
I remember reading that "sing a song of sixpence" was actually an old code that pirates used.
2007-02-28 07:16:15 · answer #7 · answered by liberpez 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋