This is, in essence, a double reblog, in which you will meet two interesting writers in the field of folklore. The first is Benton Dickieson of Prince Edward Island, Canada, who blogs at A Pilgrim in Narnia. The second is the author he presents, J. Aleksandr Wootton, self described “Author, Folklorist, Poet, Book-Worm, Faerie Historian, Cultural Critic, and Virginian.”
Writing on the “Supposed Unsuitability of Fairtales for Children,” Wootton has much to say including a fine summary of a subject I’ve circled about on several occasions, attributes of successful fairytale heroes and heroines:
“The world is fraught with danger, including life-threatening danger, but by being clever (always), honest (as a rule, but with common-sense exceptions), courteous (especially to the elderly, no matter their apparent social station), and kind (to anyone who has obvious need), even a child can succeed where those who seem more qualified have failed.”
Enjoy the websites of both of these folklore enthusiasts.
J. Aleksandr Wootton chairs the fictional Folklore Studies department at Lightfoot College, where his research focuses on post-war Faerie. He has authored Her Unwelcome Inheritance, an account of fairy refugees on earth, and has recently published a poetry collection titled Forgetting: Impressions from the Millennial Borderland. For more on his writing, or to contact him, visit www.jackwootton.com.
“On the Supposed Unsuitability of Fairytales for Children”
J. Aleksandr Wootton
Shortly after supporting a local library event promoting fairytale literature, the folklore department at Lightfoot College received an animated communication from a very concerned mother regarding, in short, the “unsuitability of fairytales for children.”As this seems to be a rather widespread idea (I might mention the Daily Telegraph article of February 12, 2012) as well as an oddly long-lived one, I take the liberty of public response.Dear Madame,
Though you may be unaware of it, your email represents sentiments that have…
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The First Gates 
Wow. This is an amazing piece of writing. I have never been as enthralled with fairy tales as you, Morgan, but I have learned to appreciate them more and more through exposure to them through your blog. This piece really brings a perspective and an importance to them that I never realized. Thanks for posting it.
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My pleasure. I was delighted to find it.
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Thanks very much for the double re-post! I’m following your blog now as well.
You might enjoy the follow-up, “On the Supposed Unsuitability of Fairytales for Adults” http://smithyofthewrittenword.blogspot.com/2013/11/on-supposed-unsuitability-of-fairytales.html
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Thanks for the follow and the link to the new post. I’ll look at it later this evening.
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Thanks for posting this. Not only does it give the fictional J. Aleksander Wootton a new voice, but my own work too. I was also looking at “Arthur Spiderwick’s Illustrated Guide” again–awesome resource, beautiful book.
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I was happy to discover your site and this links. I enjoy Spiderwick as well, so I’ll be visiting on a regular basis.
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