Fairy tales, in their telling, have long been a source of fond memories between parent and child. Many have inspired countless movies and toys, providing countless hours of entertainment and nostalgia.
Given how widely known these stories are, it’s not surprising that numerous life lessons can be drawn from their tellings, many of which have helped children the world over as they transition to adulthood.
Here are just a few.
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by BookOutlet.ca.
Trust Your Instinct, Be Kind, and Listen to Your Heart
The greatest weapon we wield throughout our lives is our character — how we treat one another, our ability to sense danger in situations where it might not be apparent and to let our hearts guide our path. These idioms are typical pillars to many Disney-esque and other tales, but that doesn’t make them any less true.
Heroes Come in All Shapes and Sizes
Regardless of what others may think — you can be your own hero. Take Mulan for example; she certainly didn’t wait for someone to come to her aid, or let others face her aggressors in her stead. Ultimately, it is Mulan who saves the day, proving that anyone, regardless of size, social standing, or wealth can be the hero.
The Truth Will Come Out — Eventually
Poor Aladdin. With the magic lamp in hand, his only desire was for the Sultan’s daughter to fall in love with him. Knowing that he would need to become a prince in order to wed her, he wished for untold riches from the genie. In spite of his best efforts, Aladdin’s illusion was ultimately unravelled. The point is, lying might be easy to do, but eventually, the truth shall be known.
Don’t Judge a Person by Their Appearance
We’ve all heard the phrase, “Don’t judge a book by its cover”. Perhaps most greatly exemplified in the tales of Snow White or Beauty and the Beast, we learn that things are not always what they appear to be — people who look harmless can be dangerous and those who appear dangerous can be harmless (think of the witch in the form of the harmless little old lady or the seemingly ferocious Beast). Remember, all that glitters is not gold!
Always Read First Before Signing Your Life Away
Remember Rumpelstiltskin? He’s the not so noble antagonist that was always up for a good deal. And like a less than honorable mobile or cable company, he was used to coming out ahead because people simply didn’t take the time to read the fine print. It’s true that none of us are fans of reading End User Agreements (and as a result, many of us don’t) but if Rumpelstiltskin has taught us nothing else, it’s that when someone wants to sell you something, don’t be too hasty and read the darn contract!
Try Something New Every Day
This one is especially poignant and can be seen in so many different tales. The key take away with this one is to dive into something even if there’s a chance you might fail. As adults, this is something that many of us neglect to do. Trying something new will lead to failures — of that, there is little doubt — but it will also help you to experience more of what life has to offer and help you uncover your hidden passions.
The Easy Way Isn’t Always the Best Way
Remember the Three Little Pigs? The guiding theme of this tale is that if you’re patient, plan ahead, and work hard, your efforts shall be rewarded. Sure the first two pigs built structures that could be called homes, but their lack of effort meant that their homes were ineffectual at keeping them safe from the wolf. It is only through the last pig, who built his home out of brick, that they avoid catastrophe. The lesson here kids: don’t cut corners!
Don’t Be Greedy — It Will Only Bring You Trouble
The Grimm tale of A Fisherman and His Wife tells the story of a man who catches a magic fish. He decides to let the fish go, a decision that doesn’t sit well with the fisherman’s wife. She demands he returns to the fish regularly, wishing for increasing degrees of wealth and power. The man implores his wife to be happy with what they have but she will not relent. Eventually, the magical flounder takes away everything that he granted the fisherman and his wife, leaving them in the same state as when they began.
Though most of us will not encounter a magical, wish-granting fish in our lifetime, the moral stands out clear as day; greed will only bring you trouble.
While fairy tales are fun to read, each of them also offers sound wisdom that will help guide us in our own lives if we allow ourselves to contemplate the morals of the story. If you’re looking to share a favourite tale with a young one, or instil in them the life lessons that will help them as they transition to adulthood, online bookstores like BookOutlet are sources for all your fairy tale needs.
FAQs
Based on the Jungian interpretation, fairy tales teach children how to deal with basic human conflicts, desires, and relationships in a healthy way; acquiring these skills can ultimately impact a child's health, quality of life, or even influence its values and beliefs in the future.
What is the main theme or lesson of the fairy tale? ›
All fairy tales attempt to help people know how to be good people. This can be cautionary like "do not judge a book by its cover" or prescriptive like "be kind to others regardless of who they are."
What are the morals of the folktales? ›
Folktales serve as a means of character education and convey moral messages, especially for children . They teach values such as sincerity, honesty, acceptance, harmony, and patience . In traditional African societies, folktales were used for acculturation and were didactic and morality-laden .
What is the lesson of Little Red Riding Hood? ›
The moral of the story 'Little Red Riding Hood is that we should never trust strangers. Even a very friendly stranger may have bad intentions'. The sweet little girl, Little Red Riding Hood, finds herself in danger because she talks to the sly wolf and naively points out the direction of her grandmother's house.
What is a moral lesson? ›
The moral of a story is the lesson that story teaches about how to behave in the world. Moral comes from the Latin word mores, for habits. The moral of a story is supposed to teach you how to be a better person.
What is a tale that teaches a lesson? ›
Fables are characterized by their moral lessons. These short tales were once passed down as folklore to teach listeners the difference between right and wrong, give advice on proper behavior and manners, and offer maxims to live by.
What is the main idea of a fairy tale? ›
Most fairy tales begin with 'once upon a time' or 'a long time ago', and end with telling the reader that the characters 'lived happily ever after'. Fairy tales are often set in the past, but not in a defined period of history, and they usually have a happy ending where the hero triumphs over adversity.
What is the theme lesson of the story? ›
What is the theme of a story? The theme of a story is the underlying message or concept that the author is trying to convey to the reader. The theme of a story is generally an opinion the writer wants to convey through their storytelling.
What is the theme of fairy tales for kids? ›
Beauty, heroism, and virtue are common themes in fairy tales, which often feature poor but virtuous characters. Famous fairy tale writers include Charles Perrault, Hans Christian Andersen, and the Brothers Grimm.
Do all folktales teach us real life lessons? ›
Yes, most folktales teach a lesson.
Because folktales are a product of the people, they typically involve a moral story or lesson that reflects the values of that culture. For example, the story of King Arthur is often said to reflect British values of integrity, loyalty, and responsibility.
Moral stories influence children's decisions on actions. Children develop virtue through imagination and conscience. They learn honesty, courage, and kindness through moral stories and characters, especially in a busy society. Moral tales give children a strong sense of good and wrong.
What is a folktale lesson? ›
Folktales are thus stories for people (all people). They are usually simple, easily-understood stories told in straightforward language. They often teach a lesson or explain why things (such as the sun, moon, and stars) exist as they do. Many folktales have animals as characters and have magical elements.
What is the moral lesson of the Cinderella story? ›
Cinderella teaches the morals of kindness towards all, forgiving others for doing wrong, and never letting bad things ruin your heart. The themes of the story are good versus evil and luck changing your life.
What can we learn from Snow White's story? ›
The moral of Snow White's story is “Vanity will not take you far, but kindness will”. In this short story, the queen was completely indulged in vanity, which messed with her mind. But kind-hearted Snow White found friends and met a prince that loved her and stood by her.
What is the moral of Hansel and Gretel? ›
The moral of "Hansel and Gretel" is that working together and thinking ahead can help a person get out of even the most dangerous situations. Hansel and Gretel always worked together and looked out for each other. Both characters make plans that help them to survive many dangerous situations.
What do fairy tales teach adults? ›
Fairy tales help us break boundaries of time and culture. And fairy tales feed our imaginations. The wondrous is matter of fact in these tales, so we are encouraged to look for wonder in our own lives. We are given permission to see the world as one of possibility.
What is the power of fairy tales? ›
Consider this: fairy tales often tap into fundamental human emotions and desires. They whisk us away to worlds where good triumphs over evil, challenges are overcome, and love and justice prevail. These stories touch upon our deepest longings for meaning, hope, and transformation.
Why is 3 important in fairy tales? ›
Three is the smallest recognisable pattern, which makes it easy to remember. A plot based on “threes” also creates suspense more effectively than events occurring in twos or fours. Memorable tales were more likely to be repeated from person to person and survive in the oral tradition.
What is the role of fairy tales in affective learning? ›
Fairy tales naturally reflect the hero narrative quest, wherein the character is challenged, endures conflict, takes action and achieves his/her goal. In this context, fairy tales support the learner in finding new methods of resolving challenges and transforming issues in their everyday lives.
