Breaking the Magic Spell: Radical Theories of Folk and Fairy Tales [Paperback]

Jack Zipes (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0813190304 | ISBN-13: 978-0813190303 | Publication Date: July 5, 2002 | Edition: 2 Rev Exp

This revised, expanded, and updated edition of the 1979 landmark Breaking the Magic Spell examines the enduring power of fairy tales and the ways they invade our subjective world. In seven provocative essays, Zipes discusses the importance of investigating oral folk tales in their socio-political context and traces their evolution into literary fairy tales, a metamorphosis that often diminished the ideology of the original narrative. Zipes also looks at how folk tales influence our popular beliefs and the ways they have been exploited by a corporate media network intent on regulating the mystical elements of the stories. He examines a range of authors, including the Brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Anderson, Ernst Bloch, Tolkien, Bettelheim, and J.K. Rowling to demonstrate the continuing symbiotic relationship between folklore and literature.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A stimulating contribution to the critical literature of folk and fairy tales." -- Children's Literature Association Quarterly

"The name Jack Zipes is synonymous with highly regarded and widely read anthologies and critiques of fairy tales." -- Choice

"All libraries should acquire this new edition of one of the most influential texts in the field." -- Choice

"Fairy Tales are a highly fashionable study today for literary scholars as well as folklorists, and another new book shows what a range of interest can be evoked by them. This time in Jack Zipes' interesting and vigorous study." -- Encounter

"Zipes reveals the extraordinary breadth of his acquaintance with both recent and classic literature in the field of folk and fairytale research." -- Fabula

"Zipes manages the impressive trick of communicating both detail and overview without simplifying either... the serious folklorist should should defnitely have this on his bookshelf." -- Fortean Times

"Zipes ably demonstrates that moral, political, religious, and other ideologies have shaped these apparently innocent narratives." -- Lore and Language

"This problematic, provocative study will undoubtedly provide stimulating reading for many audiences." -- Romantic Movement

"Zipes has written a stimulating and important contribution to the sociology of popular literature." -- Sociological Review

"Places traditional tales in their socio-political, economic and cultural contexts." -- Teacher Librarian

"Folklorists, educators and historians will particularly find this resource to be valuable. But educators and parents will also find Zipes's ideas intriguing." -- Elizabeth Herron, Folks and Fairies in Action (resourcecenterblog.wordpress.com)

About the Author

Jack Zipes, professor of German and director of the Center for German and European Studies the University of Minnesota, is the author of many books on folk and fairy tales, including Fairy Tale as Myth, Myth as Fairy Tale. He lives in Minneapolis.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: The University Press of Kentucky; 2 Rev Exp edition (July 5, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813190304
• ISBN-13: 978-0813190303
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #262,366 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #33 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy > History & Criticism

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Overview of Nonstandard Folktale Theories, April 28, 2000

By 

Julia Starkey (Medford, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Breaking the Magic Spell: Radical Theories of Folk and Fairy Tales (Hardcover)

I really love Jack Zipes, and this is one of his helpful books for folklorists, and amateurs who enjoy reading fairy tales. It presents a variety of 'radical' theories about the meaning and construction of fairy tales. Many of the theories are no longer quite so radical. The book also gives you a good overview of feminist theories about the tales, some of which will surprise. Among other things, that fairy tales are not always about the subjugation of silly blond princesses. I reccomend this book as an intro to folk and fairy tale theory.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great starting point for "radical" interpretations of folk and fairy tales, March 4, 2010

By 

Michael A. Duvernois (Minneapolis, MN United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Breaking the Magic Spell: Radical Theories of Folk and Fairy Tales (Paperback)

The book was originally published in 1979, with this new edition coming along in 2002. The feminist interpretations of fairy tales have gained a lot of attention since the book appeared (see most any Angela Carter, my personal choice is The Infernal Desire Machines of Doctor Hoffman) and it would be hard to consider that radical today. Still, the discussion of latent fascism ("Might makes right") and Utopian idealism are excellent and thought provoking. The book was originally written at least in part a response to the popularity (late 1960s and early 1970s) of Tolkien and Narnia. The update adds in Harry Potter and reconnects us to popularity of the folk tale in mass market literature.

"In Pittsburgh, PA, a burglar lost his shoe as he fled from the home of Mrs. M., age 43. Patrolmen arrested R.T., age 20, who was sitting shoeless in a nearby bar. Authorities said a shoe matching the one found in the M. home was discovered behind the bar." - Winnipeg Free Press, April 14, 1972

Cinderella is all around us.

5.0 out of 5 stars Fairy tales are exposed for their importance to a developing people., August 1, 2011

By 

Mary Ann Hazen (Michigan) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Breaking the Magic Spell: Radical Theories of Folk and Fairy Tales (Paperback)

Fairy tales are an important part of our personal lives. We all grew up most probably hearing these tales before our bed times. These tales do include much of the wisdom we today accept as common knowedge. We need to better appreciate their importance not only to children, but to the child within all of us.