Classic Fairy Tales’ Lasting Impact on Modern Storytelling
Once upon a time—
Every time we hear or read those lines, we are ready to start storytelling. Those words will open a magical world full of giants, fairies, dwarves, castles, dark woods, witches, and, of course, heroes who save the day.
Yes, even for centuries, fairy tales have been with us. Those old stories can be found everywhere and at any time. Told by our parents as bedtime stories or written in books, we can even see them as cartoon animations or movies!
Whatever form we see those stories in, the fairy tales themes will remain the same. They tell us about kindness, courage, and hope.
Think about Snow White, Cinderella, or Pinocchio. Those stories always contain a little life lesson behind their magical worlds. Even now, many authors and animators use those themes to create their own stories!
So, let’s dive into the world of fairy tales and find out how their magic color our days today!
Lessons Hidden in Classic Stories
Every fairy tale has a secret message that you can find inside the story. It’s like a pearl hidden by the seashells or gold coins inside a big chest when you’re on an adventure!
Take Beauty and the Beast. The story reminds us that love and kindness can make anyone truly beautiful.
Or Little Red Riding Hood, which tells us not only about a girl and a wolf. It also tells us to always listen to grown-ups and to be careful when trusting our guts!
Don’t forget about Hansel and Gretel! The story seems scary, with two children lost in the dark wood. But the fairy tales themes also show us courage, hope, and clever problem-solving.
Classic fairy tales stories are always fun. But, they have always been more than that. Back then, families shared them to teach kids about kindness, hope, courage, and cleverness when facing problems. Today, nothing really differs. Kids still learn how to dream big, forgive, see the good in others, and be brave through the magic of those tales.
So, when a parent reads a fairy tale as a bedtime story, they’re not just telling stories. They’re passing the secret message that remains forever. The best part? Kids may not realize that they’ve learnt a life lesson since they are busy enjoying the magic. That’s what makes fairy tales themes timeless.
How Fairy Tales Themes Appear in Today’s Stories
Fairy tales aren’t just old stories, left behind in a specific era. They are the heart of modern storytelling!
Remember Frozen? You may think that it’s just a copy of The Snow Queen. However, is that true? Sure, it’s not. This story shares the same fairy tales themes, such as courage and family.
Encanto also shows us a fairy tale in the modern world, even without castles or dragons. We also know Moana, who started sailing across the ocean and ended up discovering who she truly is. Her story shows us her bravery and adventure. After all, all of these stories have the same heart as classic fairy tales.
We also know that many modern children’s books also do the same patterns. The main character will face a major problem, learn a meaningful lesson, and end with a happy ending.
Fairy tales themes change, but it’s more like they adapt to the modern world. We may not find any castles or dragons anymore. Instead, we see the hero at his school, trying to make a new friend, which is quite challenging for him. So, whatever the setting or challenges of the stories now, the main message will always stay the same.
Why These Stories Still Matter
Today, kids already have their own toys, tablets, or phones to play games or watch videos they like. But why do we still need fairy tales to share with them?
The reason is simple. It’s because stories with fairy tales themes make everything kids learn fun! Those stories teach empathy, morals, and other life lessons without feeling like a lecture. The story shows it implicitly, without us needing to tell kids directly what to do and what not to do.
These old stories also teach kids about feeling, like being scared, sad, happy, hopeful, or anxious. This is more powerful since those feelings can be instilled in them.
That’s why adults love using fairy tales themes in modern education. They can turn a tricky, complex topic into fun, exciting lessons.
Bringing Fairy Tales to Life
Do you know what’s the most fun about fairy tales today? You can bring them into real life! But, how to do it?
It’s time for parents and teachers to shine like a fairy godparent!
You can start with storytime with kids. Pick one of the classic stories, then read it aloud. Use voices, gestures, and props! Act it out! Let the kids know how fun and alive the story is. They will surely love it.
After that, engage them in the story by asking questions related to fairy tales themes. For example, “What would you do if you met a dragon?”. Let their imagination work, and you will surely be amazed by those.
Of course, it will be more amazing if you can create your own fairy tale! Use your imagination, mix characters from different stories, or bring some new challenges to the main hero. Maybe you will team up Cinderella and Snow White to go on an adventure and save the princes!
Letting kids draw their own storybook is also a good idea! You can also ask them to retell their own version of certain fairy tales. By doing this, you will improve their creativity, imagination, and confidence.
These activities won’t just let kids grow and learn about the stories and their messages. But you are also making a fun and beautiful memory for them.
Fairy tales themes may be old, but their soul and message are always strong. They still teach us about kindness, courage, hard work, and hope, which will lead us to a happy ending. Besides, these stories help kids be imaginative, think more deeply, and dream bigger.
So, let your imagination run wild when you open a fairy tale. Don’t just read or watch it! Enjoy everything, and let the magic keep alive for generations!
