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Folk tales and fairy tales are very different AND very similar. Folk tales usually contain exaggeration and often an animal dressed and acting like a human. There is usually a lesson, although that is also the purpose of fables.
Fairy tales were not originally for children. Real fairy tales are very dark and scary and violent; therefore, children adore them IF they are allowed to experience them uncensored. I love Disney, but that studio really knows how to diminish a good story. (I still love them, but grrrrrrrrrrrr!) A fairy tale usually, but not always, contains magic, or a bewitched person, or a magic tree or disguised witch, etc. (There was no fairy godmother in Cinderella!!!!!!!!!!!!) The lesson of both folk tales and fairy tales was usually that obedience is best. Often the ending of a fairy tale was NOT happy. (another thing Disney interfered with.) I loved to teach my Fairy Tale unit; my kids were fascinated with the scary bloody REAL stories.
Of course, Cinderella is French, and by a fairly modern author. (the one who finally writes the story down usually gets the credit, even though the basic plotline is eons old.)
Go to the library and get an UNABRIDGED volume of real fairy tales. Your kids will love them! And no, little kids are not too young for the real deal.
Disney left the wicked stepmother alive; therefore, she's still OUT THERE and could come for YOU next. The actual story had her and the stepsisters stripped *****, put inside barrels that were studded with red-hot spikes, and rolled down the hill and through the town.
Most satisfying. The children are now safe, because she's gone and can't hurt anyone any more.
I loathe censorship, as you all already knew. Kids are tough. Give them the real story.
I know the story of Stone Soup but I never included it in my units because the lower grades did.
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