New Tales for Old: Folktales As Literary Fictions for Young Adults [Paperback]

Anna E. Altmann (Author), Gail de Vos (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 15, 1999

The timeless themes and versatility of folk tales have helped them survive and flourish over centuries, taking on myriad forms-short story, picture book, film, poem, and novel. This book gathers together a number of popular folktale reworkings (not just simple retellings) in a variety of genres that appeal to young adults. After discussing the nature of folktales, their cultural context, and the characteristics that make them attractive to young adults, de Vos and Altmann interpret specific tales (e.g., The Frog Prince, Cinderella, Rumpelstiltskin), describing their many reworkings and offering suggestions for using the material with young adults.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

An extensive study of the nature of folktale precedes chapters on "Cinderella," "The Frog King," "Hansel and Gretel," "Little Red Riding Hood," "Rapunzel," "Rumpelstiltskin," "Sleeping Beauty," and "Snow White." The in-depth analysis of each tale includes the Aarne-Thompson Tale Type and Motifs (explained in the introduction); a history of the tale; critical interpretations; reworkings based on the tale (novels, short stories, films, poetry, picture books, etc.); Internet resources; follow-up classroom exercises; and an extensive bibliography. The text is accessible, the organization of the material is excellent, and the quotations from other scholars illustrate concepts well. There is a wealth of information on which to base a study unit. The works of Jack Zipes and Peter and Iona Opie cover some of the same topics, yet de Vos and Altmann provide a feast for fans of folklore and for storytellers. An excellent resource.
Judy Sokoll, formerly at Fairfax County Public Library, VA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Does "Cinderella" reinforce sexist values? What did Disney do to the Snow White story? Are rape and violence at the core of "Little Red Riding Hood" ? What's that "frog" doing in the princess' bed? High-school teachers and librarians will find a lot in this lively guide to stimulate discussion about the old childhood stories and about all the new versions of traditional fairy tales that are being told now for YAs and adults in fiction, film, opera, poetry, and on the Internet. After a general, scholarly introduction, the authors devote a chapter each to "Cinderella," "The Frog King," "Hansel and Gretel," "Little Red Riding Hood," "Rapunzel," "Rumpelstiltskin," "Sleeping Beauty," and "Snow White." In each case, they list tale types and motifs, and discuss the historical development of the story, various versions, and critical interpretations, including psychoanalytic, feminist, and literary viewpoints, and the comments of leading folklorists. There are classroom suggestions and useful bibliographies to surprise kids into thinking about the stories they thought they knew. Hazel Rochman

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Paperback: 408 pages
• Publisher: Libraries Unlimited (October 15, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1563084473
• ISBN-13: 978-1563084478
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,069,073 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars May have some value as a bibliography, November 24, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: New Tales for Old: Folktales As Literary Fictions for Young Adults (Paperback)

This long book summarizes folktale scholarship and provides an annotated bibliography of books and films (both children's and adult) based on folktales. The authors are unfortunately not up to the task, and their book reads like a first draft or a compilation of undergraduate work. Attempts to explain folklore theories are clumsy and confusing.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great resource for teachers and librarians, October 31, 2000

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: New Tales for Old: Folktales As Literary Fictions for Young Adults (Paperback)

I have been looking for a great resource for school teachers and librarians teaching folklore and fairy tales to students. I think I finally found it. While much of the information in this book is not new, it has been conveniently gathered from several sources to help teachers find the information they need when teaching units in this area of their curriculum. Fairy tales offer many avenues of study in the classroom and this book will simplify writing lesson plans. Ways to think about the tales are presented as well as interpretations to use for different applications.

For anyone else who is interested in folklore, this is a wonderful resource for jumping off your studies. I learned new things and remembered other things I had forgotten!