Build your skills in literary analysis and creative writing by exploring the meaning of fairy tales.
- Duration3 weeks
- Weekly study3 hours
- LearnFree
Fairy Tales: Meanings, Messages, and Morals
Discover the fascinating circumstances and meanings behind fairy tales
On this course, you will look deeper into the enchanting and surprisingly dark themes of several well-known European fairy tales.
What were the authors thinking? What were the cultural and personal concerns that have shaped these stories? What are the readers being asked to believe?
By considering the historical context of fairy tales and examining the characters, styles, and plots, you will discover that the intended morals of the original stories may not be exactly what you first thought.
What topics will you cover?
- Exploring fairy tales
- Interpreting literary narratives
- Cultural context in literature
When would you like to start?
Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more
Available now
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...
- Demonstrate close acquaintance with three famous fairy tales.
- Explain the significance of cultural contexts in shaping fairy tales.
- Interpret narratives at basic level.
Who is the course for?
Recommended for learners age 15+
This course is for anyone interested in fairy tales and literary analysis, including reading enthusiasts, storytellers, and creative writers.
Who will you learn with?
I'm an Associate Professor of English literature at the University of Newcastle, Australia. I am passionate about poetry, but my research focuses on modern literature, especially fantasy.
Who developed the course?
The University of Newcastle Australia
The University of Newcastle is a world-class university distinguished by a commitment to equity and excellence. Ranked in Australia’s Top 10 universities, and 197th in the world (QS rankings, 2021).
- Established1965
- LocationNewcastle, Australia
- World rankingTop 200Source: QS World University Rankings 2021
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What's different about this course?
Since 2017 you have been able to take a degree on FutureLearn. This free course is a bit like a starter course for a degree — it should give you a flavour of the degree subject but can also be your first step towards a degree qualification.
If you enjoy this course you can apply to join the program it’s part of to start working towards a degree on FutureLearn.
Don’t worry, you can still take the course without doing a full degree!
How do degrees work on FutureLearn?
Which program and degree is this course part of?
This course is part of the program Stories in Context: Fiction, Drama, Film, which is one of the building blocks that leads to a degree in Bachelor of Arts.
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