Fairytales_and_folktales_are_vital_for_advancing_cultural_values
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The Social Function of the Folktale and Fairytale
Introduction
Fairytales and folktales are vital for advancing cultural values. The wisdom in the stories
usually gets passed down through the generations, guiding society as a whole and preserving it
for a long time. Folktales and fairytales often impart moral lessons, especially after each tale,
which mirrors the ethical standards that govern society and aids in children's early development
of morality. The moral and ethical values that the stories impart are crucial because they shape
children's character at an early age, preparing them to become responsible adults in society.
The social function of the folktale & fairytale
The stories also support the development of a feeling of cultural identity and social
inclusion. Most of the time, the names and characters in the stories reflect the community's
history and serve to bind its inhabitants to their culture. They maintain a culture's individuality
and authenticity by keeping its essential components intact. Marcia R. Lieberman's scholarly
study, published in "College English," provides an in-depth examination of the role of fairy tales
in cultural adjustment, emphasizing how these stories affect women's socialization. Lieberman's
research helps to better understand the critical function of storytelling in spreading and
maintaining cultural values by examining the impact of fairy tales on the acculturation process.
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It should be highlighted that not all aspects of these stories are consistent with
contemporary values; some may even reinforce traditional gender roles or power relations.
Folktales and fairytales have a significant social impact on society, and it is vital to consider this
influence while evaluating their social responsibilities. Additionally, progressive, inclusive ideals
that reflect shifting cultural norms should be actively promoted. Despite these challenges, these
tales are vital to transmitting and maintaining cultural values because they provide a timeless link
to the past and direction for the future.
They should be told to children to preserve the cultural tradition's beliefs in folktale
stories. These serve as an archive for shared experiences that connect the past with the here and
now (Dayrell, pg. 300 ). These stories maintain cultural transmissions by ensuring that heritage
and identity are passed on from generation to generation, leading to generation connectedness.
The stories told through fictional characters such as Anansi the Spider convey the cultural fabrics
of the Igbo, Yoruba, etcetera. Storytelling was critical in building community cohesion,
imparting ethical values, and conserving native wisdom. Folklore remained vital for the
development of Nigerian culture.
They convey ethics by telling stories that appear innocent. These stories are told through
relatable characters, using enticing plots that teach empathy, sincerity, and perseverance. Making
morals easy to understand can be done through narrative structure, which is also enthralling and
sticky enough to aid kids in grasping fundamental principles quickly. Ethical principles
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effortlessly blend into the narrative of children's folktales and fairy tales. Moral situations arise
for characters with their options representing consequences accompanying excellent and evil
deeds. One way to teach audiences to use moral principles is the daily selling style, which
explains ethics that can be implemented personally (
Zima, pg 714)
. Aesop's fables provide an
example of short moral teachings. This makes these fables that use anthropomorphic animals'
magnificent and timeless messages easy to understand. For example, "The Boy Who Cried Wolf"
teaches us about deceitfulness, its dangers, and how to avoid them.
K
On the other hand, "The Ant and the Grasshopper" emphasizes hard work and alerts us
from being lazy. Aesops’ stories are still popular among people because they prove that morality
can be presented in an easy-to-remember form with a good story.
The folktales and fairytales are educational; they entertain and explain people's way of
life. They create engaging stories with magical elements as well as characters that hook
audiences into their work, giving moral messages that, at the same time, offer an amusing
diversion from reality. Sharing such stories strengthens ties among members of the community.
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Just as they do at community festivals, at firesides in the village, and at dinner parties, the
storytelling ritual brings people together under a common social culture. Folktales and fairytales
attract everybody because these characters represent typical emotions like love, bravery, and
fighting with difficulties. Since these are universal resonances, they allow others' stories to
remain relevant and relate to people among themselves, sharing comprehension about humanity.
Folk tales and bedtime stories give comfort and direction when facing challenges.
Familiar stories with story arcs that offer a structure to understand and cope with problems
despite the uncertain future. Folktales and fairy tales inspire in times of adversity and give hope.
Overcoming trials and tribulations of characters helps to develop resilience in persons who strive
onward despite setbacks. Such stories are emotional pillars that show us all about our ability to
achieve success and change (Judith, pg.90). From time immemorial, fairy tales and folktales
have helped us survive emotionally in dark hours and thus strengthened our unity as a nation.
Although these stories may be eaten privately, for example, in day-to-day life settings, such
stories assist people and whole communities in overcoming challenging conditions using
courage, faith, and hope.
Though folk tales and fairy tales are precious, their shadow contains elements of sexism
and classism. They are usually traditional and depict males as taking part in dominant roles while
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females remain weak and helpless, thereby promoting unjust laws and embedded notions about
genders. Most such stories do, after all, mirror a shared vision of woman-as-victim or even man-
is-the-hero image. Most of all, the portrayal of women through media affects people's view on a
'woman' role and reaffirms already established stereotypes about "manly" actions within
societies, which makes it hard for any man to express himself differently than he already has
been over Modern society today has realized it is necessary to analyze the old sagas and
fairytales of the past(Lieberman et al., pg. 390). With the stories being recycled by re-reading
and retelling, the effort aims to unravel what has been misconstrued. The new evaluation
considers changing cultural ideals aimed at creating equal opportunities.
CONCLUSION
They served as tools through which cultures were passed on from generation to
generation. These reflect morals and culture by depicting something on their ordinary
consciousness in various societies. These are tales which old always stay new. Their ability to
transcend generations demonstrates their power in human thinking, forming one means of
communicating and interacting over a vast period. Reading of stories in an equilibrated manner
amid the evolving order. These stories are rewritten to try and make them fit contemporary
culture so as not to offend contemporary audiences.
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References
Zima, Dubravka. "SOCIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE FAIRY TALE COLLECTION CROATIAN
TALES OF LONG AGO BY IVANA BRLIĆ-MAŽURANIĆ."
Acta Histriae
30.3 (2022):
709-726.
https://repozitorij.unizg.hr/islandora/object/hrstud:3292
Dayrell, Elphinstone, et al. “Folk Stories from Southern Nigeria, West Africa.” Internet Archive,
London, New York: Longmans, Green and Co., 1910
archive.org/details/folkstoriesfroms00dayrrich/page/n1/mode/2up?view=theater. It was
accessed on 30 Oct. 2023.
Judith, P. Shoaf. “Bisclavret.” Goodreads, 1996, www.goodreads.com/book/show/41181537-
bisclavret. Accessed 30 Oct. 2023.
Lieberman, Marcia R. "' Some Day My Prince Will Come: Female Acculturation
through the Fairy Tale." College English, vol. 34, no. 3, Dec. 1972, pp. 383–95,
https://doi.org/10.2307/375142.
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