Part I: “Hansel and Gretel” & Bettelheim’s “The Uses of Enchantment”
- What comes to mind when you hear the term “fairy tale”? What is one fairy tale that you heard growing up or as an adult? Quickly summarize the story and explain what you gained by it or what you think another child might gain by it.
- Near the beginning of the chapter “The Child’s Need for Magic,” Bettelheim lists a series of questions that a hypothetical child might ask about the world: “Are there benevolent powers beside his parents? Are his parents benevolent? How should he form himself and why? Is there hope for him, though he may have done wrong? Why has all this happened to him? What will it mean for his future?” (47). How might “Hansel and Gretel” help a child answer any of these big questions? Choose 2-3 questions from this list and answer them using examples from the fairy tale.
- Some critics of fairy tales might argue that the premise of “Hansel and Gretel” (a father who abandons his children to starvation) is too brutal for young children. What would Bettelheim say to these critics? What do you think—can children handle this level of brutality in their stories? Be sure to use evidence from Bettelheim when answering.
Part II: Three Versions of “Cinderella”
Sample Solution