French Fairy Tales

Catalog description

An exploration of a major literary and cultural tradition still greatly influential in modern literature and films. Class will focus on Charles Perrault, the seventeenth century recorder of a number of well-known fairy tales such as Little Riding Hood, Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty; Madame d'Aulnoy, one of the most prolific French fairy-tale writers of the seventeenth century; and Madame le prince de Beaumont, author of the Beauty and the Beast. Modern adaptations of Perrault's fairy tales in films, literature, music and/or art will be discussed. Finally students will be asked to read articles chosen to represent a wide variety of critical approaches to fairy tales. Class will consist of lectures and interactive activities.