Cook Up Your Own Fairy Tales

Introduction

• Speaker: Michael Rosen
• Main Topic: Campaign called "Cook Up Your Own Fairy Tales"
• Genre Focus: Stories and poems, particularly fairy tales and folk tales

What are Fairy Tales and Folk Tales?

• Definition: Short stories that have travelled through time and space for thousands of years.
• Transmission:
  • Told by various people: grandparents, children, teachers, merchants
  • Modes: Orally, written in books, theatre, films, opera, ballet
• Notable Figures:
  • Charles Perrault
  • Brothers Grimm

Example: Cinderella

• Variations across cultures:
  • French: Cinderella
  • German: Aschenputtel
  • Chinese version involves a professor and a gold slipper.

Memory of Stories

• First Encounters: Often introduced in childhood.
• Imagination: Fairy tales occur in imaginary worlds where anything can happen.

Key Ingredients of Fairy Tales

1. Settings:

   • Common Locations:
     • Forests (scary, mysterious)
     • Kitchens (e.g., Cinderella sweeping)
     • Edible houses (e.g., Hansel and Gretel)

2. Characters:

   • Varied and imaginative
     • Examples: Talking animals, giants, witches, princesses, wise women

3. Objects:

   • Often enchanted, serving magical purposes
     • Examples:
       • Magic cooking pot
       • Enchanted apples
       • Glass slippers

4. Transformations:

   • Objects and characters undergo changes
     • Examples:
       • Pumpkin to carriage
       • Beans growing into a giant beanstalk

Themes and Messages

• Power Dynamics: Little overcoming the powerful (tyrants, creatures)
• Warnings: Consequences of bad behavior and coping with fear
• Resilience: Stories empower readers to resist cruelty and overcome challenges

Example: Julia Donaldson

• Known for stories like The Gruffalo, which reflect fairy tale elements.

Campaign Invitation

• Call to Action:
  • Inviting participants to create their own fairy tales using the discussed ingredients.
• Encouragement: "Do you think you could do that? We very much hope so."

Conclusion

• Thank audience for their participation and attention.