Critical Response #1 1

GHUM Professor Melanie J. Fishbane

1017 Children’s Literature

Critical Response #1

Manmeet Singh (101421993)

1) The Magic Bed by Hartwell James:

 The Fish Prince:

The Fish Prince fairy story has the timeless attraction of fairy and folk

stories by containing universal themes such as honesty, charity,

overcoming obstacles, good triumphing over evil, and the power of mercy

and goodwill. The tale actively engages the reader with the protagonist,

Maya, who shows kindness by agreeing to marry the Fish Prince despite

the imagined risk. Maya uncovers Matni's clever scheme to change the

younger prince into a fish, and her courage breaks the spell, resulting in

happiness.

Generosity is portrayed as a driving force when Maya's humanitarian deed

of marrying the Fish Prince results in the breaking of the spell. Maya

overcomes obstacles by overcoming her worries and utilizing charmed

pebbles to successfully change the Fish Prince back into a gorgeous

prince. The story also depicts the triumph of good over evil, with Matni's

cruel plans destroyed by Maya's deeds. Finally, the final sequence, in

which the Fish Prince and Maya are drawn from the sea to live happily in

the palace, highlights the importance of mercy and kindness in reaching a

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satisfying and harmonic conclusion. In summary, the Fish Prince fairy tale

actively utilizes these thematic components and creative characteristics to

connect with the timeless beliefs present in fairy stories.

The Magic Bed - Indian folktale (worldoftales.com)

2) Canadian Fairy Tales by Cyrus Macmillan

 Rainbow and Autumn Leaves:

The story of Turtle and the animals' journey to the sky speaks to the

timeless themes of fairy and storytelling, especially the idea of running

away from danger and rising above obstacles. The oldest and smartest

animal, the turtle, represents the wisdom connected to the ageless figure of

a mentor or advisor. through Turtle's creative strategy of worshiping the

Thunder God in order to reach the sky, this story actively engages readers

while showing the idea of overcoming challenges by means of

determination and the supernatural.

The fight between Bear and Deer in the story's later sections sets up

themes of implications, deceit, and loyalty. The Great Council's choice of

climbing to the skies represents the group's ambition for security and

harmony and fits with the general concept of righteousness winning over

evil. In addition to showing conflict, the subsequent fight between Bear

and Deer also represents the negative effects of disharmony in a

community. The continuous aspect of life and a lasting influence are

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symbolized by the blood of bears and deer, which shapes the colors of fall

leaves.

In summary, the story skillfully combines engaging characters, striking

imagery, and thematic aspects that speak to the universal appeal of fairy

and folk stories, stressing the need of seeking the truth, the benefits of

giving, overcoming difficulties, and the strength of mercy and kindness.

Rainbow and the Autumn Leaves - Native American folktale

(worldoftales.com)

3) The Arabian Nights by Anonymous

 The Story of Husband and the Parrot:

The timeless themes of truth victory over dishonesty and the consequences

of making impulsive decisions are beautifully illustrated in the fairy tale of

the parrot and the spouse. The parrot, with its ability to narrate historical

events with accuracy, stands in for the symbol of truth in the story being

told. But when the husband quickly kills the parrot because he doesn't

believe it, he later realizes that he made a mistake and that the bird was

telling the truth. This story tackles the idea of truth prevailing over

falsehoods straight away, stressing the value of giving things serious

thought before making judgments.

This story falls under the global attraction of traditional tales in general,

especially when the characters are driven by uncertainty or suspicion and

have to deal with the consequences of their actions. The tragic end of the
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parrot's mistreatment serves as a lesson in the catastrophic effects of

ignoring the truth. The story emphasizes the literary device of moral

lessons learned and the consequences of quick judgments for the

characters.

In overall, the parrot narrative from One Thousand and One Nights

highlights the permanent appeal of ethical lessons in storytelling and

actively addresses the issue of truth winning over lies and the

consequences of quick decisions, adding to the folk tales' longevity.

Arab folktales - The Story of the Husband and the Parrot

(worldoftales.com)