Julie Szekely

Literature is defined as writings in which expression and form, in connection with ideas of permanent and universal interest, are characteristic or essential features, as poetry, novels, history, biography, and essays. Literature also is writings dealing with a particular subject and writings of a specific language, period, people, etc. (Dictonary.com). From these definitions I found I believe that the fairy tales, blues lyrics, and poems we have read should be considered literature. I do believe that all of these show form and definitely show expression. They may not catch the interest of everyone but I am sure they catch interest of some. Not everyone is interested in the same things and I believe people interested in this kind of literature, reads these in the same ways that we read literature we like. All literature is read in different ways, such as reading song lyrics to a novel, but in the long run they have the same meanings towards us. They are all telling us a story. I do believe these are a good thing to be taught in which this is showing a student that literature can be many different types of writings.
The different languages of these pieces affect your reading experience in which they make it more realistic. Such as the language in the blues writings were hard to interpret but it made it sound like it was really coming from that time period. This style made it hard to understand what you were reading but I believe if you take the time it is readable. From the effort taken to read these it shows us that they have different slang and ways of talking then we do here at IUP but I do not believe that IUP has one set way of speaking. Everyone reads and interprets things differently but that just makes the reading more of an experience. It really lets you into that person’s life or that way of living. The way you speak highly depends on your influences around you. If you were not exposed much to reading and writing you may find your language to be close to that of the Brer Rabbit stories. That is how I feel about what we have read in class and literature.

Fairy Tales are tales that every child hears and will remember all their lives. As a child you view a fairy tale as a great bedtime story or as a great movie that always has a happy ending. Now as an adult and reading the Grimm’s versions of fairy tales I can see the real meaning behind the fairy tales. You can notice that there is a point that is trying to be put across that as a child you don’t notice. I’ve also noticed that there are some hidden sexual and violent parts. In the versions of “Little Red Riding Hood” that we read it was sexual in the way that she undresses and gets in to bed with the wolf. This was also violent in which the wolf kills grandma and eats the little girl. In “Cinderella” it is violent in which the step sisters get their eyes poked out in return to what they have done to Cinderella.
From reading the Grimm’s versions I do not believe that young children should be exposed to these tales. I believe as a child they should watch the Disney versions. The Grimm’s version of “Little Red Riding Hood” does show a child that you should not talk to strangers and what the outcome is from talking to strangers as the Disney version also relates to the not talking to strangers tip but it just does not show that much of an extreme consequence in return. The Grimm’s tale of “Cinderella” does get a point across on karma and that if you treat someone badly it will come back at you, but I do not believe that poking their eyes out is a good way to approach that.
My opinion is that the Grimm’s tales are not fairy tales; they are just short stories for an older child to read. I view a fairly tale as magical and having a happy ending. I do not believe that young children should be exposed to these versions of the fairy tales; they should only watch the Disney versions. But as a teenager I do think it may be a good idea to read the Grimm’s versions. Grimm is getting across good points that a teenager should know. Especially with the moral, “Children, especially attractive, well bred young ladies, should never talk to strangers, for if they should do so, they may well provide dinner for a wolf.” This tells a teen not to talk to strangers or fall into the trap of a bad guy. So in conclusion I do not believe that the Grimm’s tales should be considered fairy tales or read to young children but is a good source of reading for a teenager.