LIS CONGRESS 2009

DECODING FAIRY TALES:

the untold story
Sir Igor Cabbab
UPSLIS

1
Once upon a time...

A “fairy tale” is basically a

fictional story

Folkloric characters and themes

like: fairies, goblins, trolls, elves,
witches, princesses, giants,
talking animals, spells and
enchantments

Madame d'Aulnoy: Fairytales

existed even before the term
was coined.

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Once upon a time...

Something blessed with unusual

happiness, as in "fairy tale
ending" or "fairy tale romance"

Compared with others:

No superficial references to:
Religion
Actual places
Persons
Events

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ATU Classification System

Antti Aarne - 1910

Stith Thompson - translated and
expanded in 1928
Stith Thompson - expanded in 1961,
became the AT-number system
(AaTh)
Hans-Jörg Uther - expanded in 2004,
became the Aarne-Thompson-Uther
or ATU system
* http://oaks.nvg.org/folktale-types.html
* Antti Aarne, The Types of the Folktale: A Classification and Bibliography.
* Ashliman, D. L., A Guide to Folktales in the English Language.
* Uther, Hans-Jörg 2004. The Types of International Folktales : A Classification
and Bibliography, Parts I–III: the ATU classification system 4
ATU Classification System

Cinderella is ATU 510

(Supernatural helpers)
The Three Little Pigs is ATU 124
(Wild Animals and Domestic Animals)
Beauty and the Beast is ATU 425
(Supernatural or Enchanted Wife
[Husband] or Other Relative)

“The Aarne-Thompson system catalogues some 2500 basic plots from which,
for countless generations, European and Near Eastern storytellers have built
their tales....The Aarne-Thompson system encompasses tales found around
the world.” —Ashliman, p. ix
* Ashliman, D. L., A Guide to Folktales in the English Language.
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ATU System – Animal Tales

Wild Animals 1–99

The Clever Fox
(Other Animal) 1–69
Other Wild Animals
70–99
Wild Animals and Domestic Animals
100–149
Wild Animals and Humans 150–199
Domestic Animals 200–219
Other Animals and Objects 220–299
* http://oaks.nvg.org/folktale-types.html
* Uther, Hans-Jörg 2004. The Types of International Folktales : A Classification
and Bibliography, Parts I–III: the ATU classification system
6
ATU System – Tales of Magic

Supernatural Adversaries 300–399

Supernatural or Enchanted Wife (Husband)
or Other Relative 400–459
Wife 400–424
Husband 425–449
Brother or Sister 450–459
Supernatural Tasks 460–499
Supernatural Helpers 500–559
Magic Objects 560–649
Supernatural Power or Knowledge 650–699
Other Tales of the Supernatural 700–749
* http://oaks.nvg.org/folktale-types.html
* Uther, Hans-Jörg 2004. The Types of International Folktales : A Classification
and Bibliography, Parts I–III: the ATU classification system
7
ATU System – Religious Tales

God Rewards and

Punishes 750–779
The Truth Comes to
Light 780–799
Heaven 800–809
The Devil 810–826
Other Religious
Tales 827–849

* http://oaks.nvg.org/folktale-types.html
* Uther, Hans-Jörg 2004. The Types of International Folktales : A Classification
and Bibliography, Parts I–III: the ATU classification system
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ATU System – Realistic Tales (Novelle)
The Man Marries the Princess 850–869
The Woman Marries the Prince 870–879
Proofs of Fidelity and Innocence 880–899
The Obstinate Wife Learns to Obey 900–909
Good Precepts 910–919
Clever Acts and Words 920–929
Tales of Fate 930–949
Robbers and Murderers
950–969
Other Realistic Tales
970–999
* http://oaks.nvg.org/folktale-types.html
* Uther, Hans-Jörg 2004. The Types of International Folktales : A Classification
and Bibliography, Parts I–III: the ATU classification system
9
ATU – Tales of Stupid Ogre / Giant / Devil

Labor Contract 1000–1029

Partnership between Man and Ogre
1030–1059
Contest between Man and Ogre
1060–1114
Man Kills/Injures Ogre 1115–1144
Ogre Frightened by Man 1145–1154
Man Outwits the Devil 1155–1169
Souls Saved from the Devil 1170–1199

* http://oaks.nvg.org/folktale-types.html
* Uther, Hans-Jörg 2004. The Types of International Folktales : A Classification
and Bibliography, Parts I–III: the ATU classification system
10
ATU System – Anecdotes and Jokes

Stories about a Fool 1200–1349

Stories about Married Couples 1350–1439
The Foolish Wife and Her Husband
1380–1404
The Foolish Husband and His Wife
1405–1429
The Foolish Couple 1430–1439
Stories about a Woman 1440–1524
Looking for a Wife 1450–1474
Jokes about Old Maids 1475–1499
Other Stories about Women 1500–1524
* http://oaks.nvg.org/folktale-types.html
* Uther, Hans-Jörg 2004. The Types of International Folktales : A Classification
and Bibliography, Parts I–III: the ATU classification system
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ATU System – Anecdotes and Jokes
Stories about a Man 1525–1724
The Clever Man 1525–1639
Lucky Accidents 1640–1674
The Stupid Man 1675–1724
Jokes about Clergymen and
Religious Figures 1725–1849
The Clergyman is Tricked 1725–1774
Clergyman and Sexton 1775–1799
Other Jokes about Religious Figures 1800–1849
Anecdotes about Other Groups of People
1850–1874
Tall Tales 1875–1999
* http://oaks.nvg.org/folktale-types.html
* Uther, Hans-Jörg 2004. The Types of International Folktales : A Classification
and Bibliography, Parts I–III: the ATU classification system 12
ATU System – Formula Tales

Cummulative Tales 2000–2100

Chains Based on Numbers, Objects,
Animals, or Names 2000–2020
Chains Involving Death 2021–2024
Chains Involving Eating 2025–2028
Chains Involving Other Events 2029–2075
Catch Tales
2200–2299
Other Formula Tales
2300–2399
* http://oaks.nvg.org/folktale-types.html
* Uther, Hans-Jörg 2004. The Types of International Folktales : A Classification
and Bibliography, Parts I–III: the ATU classification system
13
Happily ever after?

But...

Not everything
that begins with
“once upon a time...”
actually ends in
“...and they lived
happily ever after.”

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Happily ever after?

“It is true that the older versions of

the tales contain adult content which
has been edited, glossed over, or
deleted over the years, primarily
sex, incest, murder, and
cannibalism to name a few.”

Heidi Anne Heiner, SurLaLune Fairy Tales

(http://www.surlalunefairytales.com)

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Early Works – Roots of Fairy Tales

Mythology of the Ancient World (Cupid and Psyche)

Gesta Romanorum, ca. 1300 AD
Giambattista Basile's Il Pentamerone, ca. 1634-1636
Marie-Catherine D'Aulnoy's The Fairy Tales of Madame
D'Aulnoy, 1600s
Gabrielle de Villeneuve's Beauty and the Beast, 1740
Madame Le Prince de Beaumont, 1757
Charles Perrault's Histoires ou Contes du temps passé
(Mother Goose Tales), 1697
Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm's Kinder- und Haus-märchen
(Children's and Household Tales), 1812-15

*Also check Joseph Jacobs, Andrew Lang's Colored Fairy Books, Robert Southey,
Hans Christian Andersen, Heidi Anne Heiner's timeline at SurLaLune
Fairy Tales (http://www.surlalunefairytales.com) 16
Some untold stories...

The Three Little Pigs

Once upon a time when pigs spoke rhyme

And monkeys chewed tobacco,
And hens took snuff to make them tough,
And ducks went quack, quack, quack, O!

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Three Little Pigs

Known
Straw, Sticks and Bricks
Three little pigs safe in the
house of bricks
Wolf huffs and puffs himself
out, climbs chimney only to
fall into pot of boiling water
Untold
Mother sow sends them off
on their own because she
can't care for them
Little pig in straw is eaten
Little pig in sticks is eaten
Little pig in bricks in battle
of wits with wolf (turnips,
apples, butterchurn)
Wolf's death as dinner

Joseph Jacobs. "The Story of the Three Little Pigs."

English Fairy Tales. London: David Nutt, 1890.

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Some untold stories...

Little Red Riding Hood

Moral: Children, especially attractive, well bred young ladies,

should never talk to strangers, for if they should do so, they
may well provide dinner for a wolf. I say "wolf," but there
are various kinds of wolves. There are also those who are
charming, quiet, polite, unassuming, complacent, and
sweet, who pursue young women at home and in the
streets. And unfortunately, it is these gentle wolves who
are the most dangerous ones of all.

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Little Red Riding Hood

Known
Little Red Riding Hood
travels to Grandma's house
with basket of goodies
Wolf eats Grandma
Wolf eats Little Red Riding
Hood
Woodsman rescues them
Untold
Little Red Riding-Hood
travels to Grandma's house
with custard and a pot
of butter
Wolf eats Grandma
Wolf eats Little Red-Riding
Hood
There is no Woodsman

Lang, Andrew, ed. "Little Red Riding Hood." The Blue

Fairy Book. New York: Dover, 1965. (Original
published 1889.)
Charles Perrault, "Little Red Riding-Hood."
Histoires ou contesdu temps passé,
avec des moralités: Contes de ma mère
'Oye (Paris, 1697).
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Some untold stories...

Goldilocks and the Three Bears

One day, after they had made the porridge for

their breakfast, and poured it into their porridge-
pots, they walked out into the wood while the
porridge was cooling, that they might not burn
their mouths, by beginning too soon to eat it.

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Goldilocks and the Three bears

Known Untold
Goldilocks, the little girl Big, Middle and Little Bear
Father, Mother and Baby Chairs, Milk and Beds
Bear Scrapefoot the fox
Porridge, Chairs and Beds The Old Woman
Goldilocks escapes Silver-Hair
Silver-Locks
Joseph Jacobs. “Scrapefoot”. More English Fairy Tales.
G. P. Putnam's Sons.
Joseph Jacobs. “The Story of the Three Bears”.
Robert Southey. 1837.
Joseph Cundall. Treasury of Pleasure Books for Young
Children. 1850.
Aunt Mavor's Nursery Tales. 1858.
Old Nursery Stories and Rhymes. 1904.
Jim Aylesworth. Goldilocks and the Three Bears.
http://www.ayles.com/goldilocks.html.
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Some untold stories...

Rapunzel

"Rapunzel, Rapunzel! let down your hair!"

Rapunzel had beautiful long hair that shone like
gold. When she heard the voice of the witch she
would undo the fastening of the upper window,
unbind the plaits of her hair, and let it down twenty
ells below, and the witch would climb up by it.

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Rapunzel

Known Untold
Rapunzel's long golden hair Prince blinded by thorns
used by the witch and the Wandering Prince finds
Prince to climb the tower Rapunzel in the desert with
The witch cuts off her hair their twin-children
The Prince climbs to find She weeps and her tears
the witch and not Rapunzel drop on his eyes and he
Prince kills the witch and sees again.
saves Rapunzel Pascadozzia, Parsley, the
Prince and an Ogress
Lang, Andrew, ed. "Rapunzel". The Red Fairy Book.
New York: Dover, 1966. (Original published 1890.)
Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm. "Rapunzel". Kinder- und
Haus-märchen (Children's and Household Tales),
1812-15
Giambattista Basile. “Parsley”. Il Pentamerone.
1634-36.
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Some untold stories...

Sleeping Beauty

He came into a gilded chamber, where he saw upon a bed,

the curtains of which were all open, the most beautiful sight
ever beheld--a princess who appeared to be about fifteen
or sixteen years of age, and whose bright and resplendent
beauty had something divine in it. He approached with
trembling and admiration, and fell down upon his knees
before her.
Then, as the end of the enchantment was come, the Princess
awoke, and looking on him with eyes more tender than
could have been expected at first sight, said:--
"Is it you, my Prince? You have waited a long while."
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Sleeping Beauty

Known Untold
The spiteful fairy There is no kiss
Prick her finger on a spindle Old Woman with Spindle
and die Part 2
100 years sleep, to be Secret marriage,
awakened by love's first Day and Morning
kiss Evil mother (ogress)
Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm.
"Briar Rose".
Sun, Moon and Talia
Kinder- und Lang, Andrew, ed. "Sleeping Beauty". The Blue Fairy
Haus-märchen Book. New York: Dover, 1965. (Original published
(Children's and 1889.)
Household Charles Perrault, “Sleeping Beauty in the Woods”.
Tales), Histoires ou contes du temps passé, avec des
1812-15 moralités: Contes de ma mère 'Oye
(Paris, 1697).
Giambattista Basile. “Sole, Luna e Talia”.
Il Pentamerone. 1634-36.
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Some untold stories...

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

"Looking-glass, Looking-glass, on the wall,

Who in this land is the fairest of all?"

and the glass answered --

"Oh, Queen, thou art fairest of all I see,

But over the hills, where the seven dwarfs dwell,
Snow-white is still alive and well,
And none is so fair as she."

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Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Known Untold
The Jealous Queen The Iron Slippers
The Magic Mirror Ermellina and the Crystal
The Huntsman and the wild Casket, poisoned
boar's heart sweetmeats and dresses
The tight laces, the The Death of the 7 Dwarfs
poisoned comb, the Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm. "Snow-White".
poisoned apple Kinder- und Haus-märchen (Children's and
Household Tales), 1812-15
Dislodged Giambattista Basile. “The Young Slave”.
Il Pentamerone. 1634-36.
poisoned Crane, Thomas Frederick.”The Crystal Casket”.
apple Italian Popular Tales. Boston: Houghton Mifflin
Company, 1885.
Death of the Seven Dwarfs. A Legend from Switzerland.
Translated by D. L. Ashliman. © 1998-2005
http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/ashliman.html.

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Some untold stories...

Cinderella

"O gentle doves, O turtle-doves,

And all the birds that be,
The lentils that in ashes lie
Come and pick up for me!
The good must be put in the dish,
The bad you may eat if you wish."

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Cinderella
Known Untold
The Evil Stepmother and Forgiveness
Stepsisters The Doves and Pigeons
Fairy Godmother Shaking trees at mother's
12 o'clock grave
The Glass Slippers The Gold Slippers
The Pumpkin Eyes and Blood
Charles Perrault, "Cinderella, or the little glass slipper".
Histoires ou contes du temps passé, avec des
“3 Sisters”, The Ogre's Fat
moralités: Contes de ma mère 'Oye (Paris, 1697).
Greco-Egyptian “Rhodopis”,
China's Yeh Shieh
Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm. "Ashputtel". Fairy Tales.
Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm. "Ashenputtel". Kinder- und
Haus-märchen (Children's and Household Tales),
1812-15
Giambattista Basile. “The Three Sisters”.
Il Pentamerone. 1634-36.
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Short Stabs

Rumpelstiltskin - Grimm
“...in his anger he stamped with his right foot so hard that it went into the ground
above his knee; then he seized his left foot with both his hands in such a fury that he
split in two, and there was an end of him.”

The Mermaid – Hans Christian Andersen

“...but mermaids have no tears, and so they suffer all the more.”
“Why have we no immortal souls?” asked the little mermaid sadly.
“She has given us a knife; here it is, look how sharp it is! Before the sun rises, you
must plunge it into the prince's heart, and when his warm blood sprinkles your feet
they will join together and grow into a tail, and you will once more be a mermaid...”
For a moment the knife quivered in her grasp, then she threw it far out among the
waves, now rosy in the morning light, and where it fell the water bubbled up like drops
of blood.
Once more she looked at the prince, with her eyes already dimmed by death, then
dashed overboard and fell, her body dissolving into foam.

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Happily ever after?

"Yes, Sleeping Beauty

is raped while she sleeps.
Donkeyskin's father is incestuous.
Cinderella is a murderess.
Rapunzel has premarital sex."

Heidi Anne Heiner, SurLaLune Fairy Tales

(http://www.surlalunefairytales.com)

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And they lived happily ever after...
Notes and references:
http://gutenberg.org
Heidi Anne Heiner.
http://www.surlalunefairytales.com
http://oaks.nvg.org/folktale-types.html
http://en.wikipedia.org
http://home.nycap.rr.com/useless/sleeping_beauty/i
ndex.html
http://www.pitt.edu/%7Edash/dwarfs.html
Antti Aarne, The Types of the Folktale: A
Classification and Bibliography, The Finnish
Academy of Science and Letters, Helsinki, 1961.
ISBN 951-41-0132-4
Ashliman, D. L., A Guide to Folktales in the English
Language Greenwood Press, 1987.
Uther, Hans-Jörg 2004. The Types of International
Folktales : A Classification and Bibliography, Parts
I–III: the ATU classification system
Joseph Jacobs. English Fairy Tales. London: David
Nutt, 1890.
Joseph Jacobs. More English Fairy Tales. G. P.
Putnam's Sons.
Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm. Fairy Tales.
Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm. Kinder- und Haus-märchen
(Children's and Household Tales), 1812-15
Andrew Lang. Colored Fairy Books. New York: Dover,
1965-66. (Original published 1889-90.)
Charles Perrault, Histoires ou contes du temps passé,
avec des moralités: Contes de ma mère 'Oye (Mother
Goose Tales). Paris, 1697.
Giambattista Basile. Il Pentamerone. 1634-36.
Thomas Frederick Crane.”The Crystal Casket”. Italian
Popular Tales. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company,
1885.
Death of the Seven Dwarfs. A Legend from Switzerland.
Translated by D. L. Ashliman. © 1998-2005
http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/ashliman.html.
Joseph Cundall. Treasury of Pleasure Books for Young
Children. 1850.
Aunt Mavor's Nursery Tales. 1858.
Old Nursery Stories and Rhymes. 1904.
Jim Aylesworth. Goldilocks and the Three Bears.
http://www.ayles.com/goldilocks.html.
Works of Robert Southey, Hans Christian Andersen
Heidi Anne Heiner's timeline at SurLaLune Fairy Tales
(http://www.surlalunefairytales.com)
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LIS CONGRESS 2009

DECODING FAIRY TALES

the untold story

THE END
Sir Igor Cabbab
UPSLIS

34