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It is often assumed that the female characters found in popular folk and fairy tales are little more than inconsequential stereotypes--mostly serving as hapless victims in need of rescue, boring one-dimensional princesses, or egotistical and conniving villains. This book presents more fully-realized portraits of these female characters and the ways in which they actually represent bold and powerful connections to the goddesses of classic mythic narratives.
The rich legacy of female goddesses, shamans, queens, and priestesses is in fact preserved and celebrated through these more modern representations, whether as brides who can transform into animals, wise old women who live alone in the deep wilderness, strong warrior maidens, or witches who can conquer and command the elements of nature. In contemplating this revised analysis of female characters within global folktales and fairy tales, readers can see that the goddesses of old have never truly been forgotten.
List of contents
Table of ContentsPreface
Introduction
1.¿Mother Nature, Animal Brides, and Mistresses of Animals
2.¿Wise Old Women
3.¿Maidens and Otherworldly Women
4.¿Monstrous and Ghost Women
5.¿Defiant Women and Women Warriors
6.¿Heroines on Their Own Quests
7.¿Mothers and Stepmothers
8.¿Witches
Conclusion
Bibliography
Index
About the author
Rachel S. McCoppin is a professor of literature at the University of Minnesota Crookston. She has published in the areas of mythology, comparative literature, and multicultural pedagogy in scholarly books and journals.
Summary
It is commonly assumed that the female characters found in popular folk and fairy tales are little more than inconsequential stereotypes. This book presents more fully-realized portraits of these female characters, revealing the ways in which they actually represent bold and powerful connections to the goddesses of classic mythic narratives.
