RAPUNZEL GOES IN DEPTH



The  magic  Blondie  princess  from  Tangled,  produced  by  Walt  Disney  Animation  Studios  keeps  some  similarities  with  the  original  Rapunzel.  However,  Rapunzel  does  not  belong  to the  Royal  Family  as  it  happens  on  Tangled,  or  the  healing  properties  on  the  princess hair  are  not  presented  on the  original  Grimm’s  fairy  tale.

Analysing  at  class  with  Raquel  on  two  of  the  Cinderella  versions  has  aroused  in  me  curiosity.  Grimm’s  version  is  made  up  with  a  few  of  violence,  which  may  cause  an  attractive  fact.  Fairy  tales  seems  to  be  literature  for  children,  although  adults  used  to  enjoy  this  compositions.  Rapunzel’s  appointment  by  Raquel  has  motivated  me,  and  hopefully  you  will  stimulate  this  enthusiasm.  The  original  story  of  Rapunzel  from  brothers  Grimm  is  available  here .


INTERESTING FACTS

Grimm’s  fairy  tales  show  several  characteristics  of  their  periods  and  their  beliefs.  Grimm  brothers  were  protestants,  for  this  reason  we  will find  religious  interpretations.  Their  editions  involve  violent  punishment  which  increases  in  their  following  works.  After  reading  Rapunzel,  you  should  look  at  this  interesting  facts:

·         The  origin  of  this  fairy  tale  seems  to  be  the  legend  of  Saint  Barbara.  This  is  from  the  early  years  of  Christianity  in  3rd  Century  Asia  Minor.  Barbara  was  the  daughter  of  a  pagan  merchant  who  locked  up  Barbara  in  a  tower.

·         Unequal  deals  with  the  requirement  of  unborn  children  are  often  use  as  a  payment  for  services  in  tales.  For  instance,  in  the  Beauty  and  the  Beast,  Beauty  is  delivered  with  the  payment  of  a  rose;  or  Rumpelstilskin  tale,  the  debt  will  be  paid  as  a  punishment  for  the  birth  mother’s  selfish  behavior.

·         Rapunze l is  another  name  for  rampion  and  is  thus  a  suitable  name  for  the child.  The  name  is  ironical.

·         As  in  most  romantic  fairy  tales,  the  heroine  is  physically  beautiful.  Beauty  appear  as  an  aspect  that  represents  goodness,  worthiness,  privilege,  and  wealth.  An  interesting  blog  focus  on  this  background,  is  one  of  my  classmates, Rebeca Rodriguez .

·         In  folklore,  Rampion  is  said  that  lead  quarrels  amongst  children  who  eat  it  and  is  associated  with  funerals. 

Rampion
·        Stolen  Rampion  from  the  enchantress’  garden  could  be  seen  familiar  to  the  eaten  apple  by  Adan  and  Eva.  This  should  be  seen  as  a  unacceptable  action,  nevertheless  in  the  past,  members  of  a  considerable  number  of  peasant  societies  believed  that  it  was  necessary  to  fulfill  the cravings  of  a  pregnant  woman.  If  they  were  not  fulfilled,  bad  luck  might  occur  or  even  a  miscarriage.


·         Rapunzel  is  locked  up  in  the  tower  as  the  age  of  twelve.  This  stage  of  life  is  related  to  puberty,  where  emotional  and  sexual  urges  become  a  strong  force  in  a  young  woman’s  growth.

·         Rapunzel  and  the enchantress Gothel  are  the  only  characters  who  have  a  name.

·         In  several  Grimm’s  fairy  tales,  the  forest  play  a  role  in  the  story.  It  presents  a  natural  barrier  between  Rapunzel  and  the  civilization.

·         The  sentence  “let  down  your  hair”,   is  defined  in  popular  culture as  dropping  one  reserve  or  inhibitions.

  BIBLIOGRAPHY

Annotations  for  Rapunzel.  Recovered  from:  http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/rapunzel/notes.html

The  Origin  and  History  of  Rapunzel.  Recovered  from:  http://suite101.com/a/the-origin-and-history-of-rapunzel-a148496

2 comentarios:

  • Laura C. | 11 de noviembre de 2013, 6:14

    Hello Cristina!

    From my point of view the original versions of the traditional fairy tales are a little bit stronger than the nowadays versions.
    We might also thake into account that the versions that we are used to read or to watch from most of us are Disney versions. We could think about to important facts here:

    First: nowadays we are living in a society were most of the children live in a bubble and they don't know what is happening arround them. Most of the parents avoid talking about serious themes as as poverty, war or taboo topics like sex, religion or drugs. In many cases this actitude create a uninformed children who in a future wouldn't be able to face real problems. This is reflect in the fairy tales too, these creates a perfect world that it's not real. And the society demands this, stories where the truth is not show.

    Second: Disney is a factory, they need to earn money. So they adapt the version to the requirements of the consumers. Maybe if Disney use the same versions as Grimms for example, the parents will scandalize (as I did when I saw it). Disney also remarks a lot the typical stereotypes making a not evolucionate society.

    So I think that maybe the original versions are a little hard for children but the Disney versions don't show the reality and thats a bad point too. As future teacher we should choose apropiate tales for our children. Tales where the real society and the multicultural facts are shown.

  • Unknown | 12 de noviembre de 2013, 10:05

    Hello Laura,

    Thanks for visiting my blog, your comment presents interesting facts. I agree with the idea that a considerable number of students are enclosed in a bubble. For this reason, it seems engaging to work the original fairy tales with our pupils. Teachers could ask children how to solve the fairy tales’ problems, in order to become children be able to face real problems, as you said. Students need to be critical, and open minded in the real world.

    Thank you, have a nice day
    Cristina

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