Kirsten S. & Taylor L.

Overcoming fears- in many fairytales the characters go through an event that somehow forces them
to act bravely and changes them to become more heroic.
Stand up for what you believe- characters rebel against what is expected of them and do what
makes them happy.
Dont trust everyone you meet- more often than not characters are done wrong by someone who
they once thought they could trust.
Not everything is centered on appearance- many fairytales exemplify that beauty is not everything
and does not define a persons character. (Beastly)
Everlasting love- majority of fairytales circle around the goal of falling in love. Love is portrayed as a
very powerful force. (True loves kiss)
Dont be greedy- characters in fairytales that act in greed often encounter problems that are a result
of acting ungrateful.
Tradition is powerful- the power of tradition is often shown in fairytales, however it is usually acting
as an opposing force. Tradition does not define a person and everyone has the right to defy it, if they
wish.
Believe in yourself- What people think of you does not signify what you are capable of. Many
characters in fairytales accomplish things that they did not originally know they were capable of.
Good vs. Evil- In fairytales you often see the characters mistaking the antagonistic characters as
people they can trust. It is important to be able to distinguish these characters.
The importance of family- Fairytales often portray that problems can be solved by trusting family
members, family is key.
You cant always get what you want (make sacrifices)- fairytales teach todays viewers that you
may have to make some sacrifices in order to have something that you want or help others get what
they want.
Addressing issues/problems that can be apparent in
the lives of children
Teaches lessons that younger audiences can learn from
Helping parents find ways to address issues and teach
their children important things
Connects parents and their children to two different
cultures (old vs. new)
Demonstrates heavy issues with a lighthearted view


Then Now
Very traditional
Feature a royal family
Main characters have a flawless
appearance
Women are always rescued/helped by
a man
Made to respond to children
Non-violent
Language censored
Musicals
Very colorful
Objectified males

More realistic
Strays away from tradition
Modern world issues
Main characters are not presented to
be flawless
Female independence
Responds to both children and adults
Often from the perspective of the
villain
Violent
New versions for grown ups
Gory and sexual
Mixed with supernatural elements
Early examples of story telling for children
Entertainment for children that is approved by parents
Colorful fantasy aspects that appeal to children
Encourages children to follow their dreams and become
more open to adventure
Makes a child explore their imagination
Colorful and vivid imagery
Makes viewers think out of the box
Source of inspiration
Teaches morals and values


The tales may be outdated and less relevant now
Women's roles are sexualized
Unrealistic view of female characters and the ideal
image of a female
Encourage stereotypes (perfect princesses)
Far removed from reality
Frightening to children
False idea of males and their relationship with women
Unrealistic events and ideas
Stereotypes male expectations and roles