Maria Tatar
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Arts Humanities
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Jan 9, 2024
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Uploaded by MasterGalaxy12882
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Maria Tatar, "From Nags to Witches: Stepmothers and Other Ogres"
1.
Which two tales begin her article, and what do they have in common?
Mother and Law and Starving Children. These tales have much in common including the traditional elements of Grimms’ tales and the value of consequences and rewards. What are the three types of ogres in Grimm's tales?
Man-Eating Giants (Menschenfresser), Child-Eating Ogres (Kindermörder),
Bloodsucking Ogres (Blutsauger)
Is there a factual basis for the cannibalism in FTs?
Cannibalism in these fairy tales is generally symbolic and fantastical rather than based on factual events.
On p. 141, she states that nearly the entire cast of characters in fairy tales possess supernatural powers, yet it will be obvious to the habitual
reader of these tales that stepmothers are the principal agents of enchantment. At this point, you are a habitual reader of FTs do you agree with her statement?
Yes, I agree with Tatar when she says that stepmothers are frequently portrayed in fairy tales as "principal agents of enchantment," which adds to the protagonists' struggles and hardships.
Who do stepmothers persecute? And why does Tatar classify them as "ogres"?
In fairy tales, stepmothers frequently persecute
their stepchildren, who
are usually boys or girls from a prior marriage. Tatar labels them "ogres" because stepmothers are portrayed in fairy tales as terrifying characters who pose a threat to the main characters. Why aren't there many biological mothers in Grimms' tales?
It could be from the maternal mortality rates which were high, and the loss of mothers during childbirth was not uncommon. This led to a lot of motherless households. Are you convinced by her argument about the work of a single female villain in these tales? (p. 144) Why or why not?
Tatar makes a convincing case for the prevalence of single female villains in fairy tales, especially stepmothers. The evil stepmother is a recurrent theme in these stories, which fits with larger trends that highlight societal anxiety about relationships within families.
What are the three distinct arenas of action where female villains operate?
The home, the natural world, the castle. Cashdan has given us one theory on why the witch/evil female character must die. What is Tatar's theory on it? (p. 147-8)
She believes the evil female must die in order to restore the balance. What are fathers in FTs like? What fatherly exceptions does Tatar look at?
They are protective and heads of the household. An exception includes
some with excessive wisdom and power. What conclusion does she come to about jealous female figures and father figures?
She talks about how it causes tension in the household and the jealousness mixed with a protective father figure helps share the narrative of the FT. How does Tatar interpret the looking glass in "Snow White". What do you think about this?
She sees it as truth but also jealously. What main points does Tatar make in her final paragraph? What is her overall thesis and how does she support it?
She talks about the emphasis on the protective fathers and dramatized
female characters and how it is sometimes echoed a bit too much. She also discusses how households that include these dynamics help shape
childhood fantasies and tales overall.
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