Roseby Library
International School Library Month 2021
October is International School Library Month. This year’s theme is Fairy Tales and Folk Tales around the World.
“Once upon a time. . .” immediately takes us all to the magical world of books, through which we get a sneak peek into the lives of fairies, goblins, pixies and more. These stories were originally oral tales worn smooth by many tongues and passed down through generations. They teach us about human values and culture and many are cautionary tales. They let us connect the world and its many cultures through the medium of story.
“Once upon a time ………….” What magic that phrase conjures. These classic tales “tell children what they unconsciously know – that human nature is not innately good, that conflict is real and that life is harsh before it is happy – and thereby reassure them about their own fears and their own sense of self.” Arthur Schlesinger Jr.
Added to this is the memory children have of sharing these stories with a loved adult so these tales, while “terrible” have a layer of warmth, comfort and safety attached.
Bruno Bettelheim, in The Uses of Enchantment , explored these tales concluding that struggles in life are unavoidable but these tales teach children (and us ) that despite unjust hardships, steadfast struggles against them ensure a victorious outcome. These stories, still relevant to us today , are continually being transformed.
Maria Tatar, folklorist, scholar and editor of Classic Fairy Tales ( 398.2/ANN) has just published a new book. The Heroine with a 1001 Faces. ( 15th October 2021) This is a pandemic book, written against backdrop of a silent world. A world where we discover new forms of heroism in the quiet heroism of doctors and nurses. This book looks at the heroine’s quest. Maria challenges the models of heroism in Joseph Campbell’s The Hero With a Thousand Faces. On writing her book Maria says:
“It was such an adventure for me at a time that was so dark for everybody,” she said. “It was also during the long winter nights at the height of the pandemic. It kept me alive. This is what stories do, after all.” https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/22/books/maria-tatar-heroine-with-1001-faces.html
Curiosity, in these tales, is a badge of honour, not a mark of shame. From Eve and Pandora through Bluebeard’s Wife (Do we ever learn her name? ) and Shererazade to Nancy Drew, Hermione Granger, Katniss Everdeen, these girls are on their own quests. Quests that require courage, defiance and care.
In a world that requires a courageous response these fairy tales still resonate with us and are continually transformed to bring us courage. Keep reading. It is a real source of comfort and inspiration in these times.
We look forward to seeing all our students at the end of October. The Roseby Library is waiting for you.