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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Regardless of the content of the story, what two cultures call all such stories fairy tales?

2. Fairy tales are often thought to provide what to a child?

3. An adult may see the relationship between the wolf and the grandmother as _________________.

4. What is the negative aspect related to the character(s)?

5. What story does the little girl relate to her mother?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why are fairy tales important to the development of a child's mind?

2. What did Dr. Sigmund Freud think about the purpose behind the story of Oedpius?

3. How is a supreme being or other force worked into fairy tales?

4. What are the two developmental crises referred to by the author?

5. What is the purpose of being able to divide the stepmother's personality into two separate entities?

6. When does the oedipal period begin to appear in a child's life?

7. What story does Bettelheim refer to regarding the introduction of duality?

8. What has often been done to remove violence from fairy tales? What is the result?

9. Bruno Bettelheim quotes Charles Dickens on fairy tales. What does Dickens say?

10. Why have some parents and educators outlawed fairy tales?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Many fairy tales have sexual connotations. This involves everything from the oedipal influence to the avoidance of temptation and compromising situations through to preparing a child for puberty and eventual adulthood. Write a 1000-word essay on the use of sexual connotations in fairy tales. What is considered to be helpful? What might be harmful? What might be considered to be inappropriate? Use examples.

Essay Topic 2

Explain the process of altering and simplifying fairy tales. Who decided the standard by which the fairy tales should be changed? What were the moral and psychological requirements?

Essay Topic 3

Some parents are concerned that a child will become so intrigued with fairy tales that he will begin to believe in and dabble in the magic arts. Discuss the magic arts as they apply to fairy tales. What are magic arts? What might a child want to try? Is any one of the arts dangerous? How might it go against a family's structure or moral code? Have you ever dabbled in the magic arts? Explain. Which magic arts would be most commonly investigated by a curious child? What do you think would happen?

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This section contains 717 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample