Online course in Literature

Fairy Tales: Meanings, Messages, and Morals

Build your skills in literary analysis and creative writing by exploring the meaning of fairy tales.

Fairy Tales: Meanings, Messages, and Morals

Overview
Topics
Start dates
Requirements
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Try it
Overview
Topics
Start dates
Requirements
Educators
Try it
  • Duration 3 weeks
  • Weekly study 3 hours
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. Find out more.

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?

  • Date to be announced
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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?

This course is for anyone interested in fairy tales and literary analysis, including reading enthusiasts, storytellers, and creative writers.

Who will you learn with?

Caroline Webb

Caroline Webb

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 is a world-class university distinguished by a commitment to equity and excellence. Ranked in Australia’s Top 10 universities, and #207 in the world (QS rankings, 2019).

Advance your career with a degree

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?

Do the free course
Join and complete the program
Get academic credit for an online degree from The University of Newcastle Australia

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.

Find out more and apply

Get a taste of this course

Find out what this course is like by previewing some of the course steps before you join: