1. Once Upon a Time …
Teaching with Fairy Tales
ShellyTerrell.com/fairytales
2. ShellyTerrell.com/fairytales
“Fairy tales are more
than true: not because
they tell us that dragons
exist, but because they
tell us that dragons can
be beaten.”
- Neil Gaiman, Coraline
7. Morphology of the Folktale by Vladimir Propp
Major characters
False hero
Villain
DispatcherHelper
Hero
Donor
8. Fairy tales usually
include 31steps!
- Morphology of the Folktale
by Vladimir Propp
Malcolmsroundtable.com/2013/06/15/the-bare-bones-structure-of-a-fairy-tale
9. Fairy Tale Structure
Vladimir Propp, Morphology of the Folktale, Campbell, M. (2013). Malcolmsroundtable.com
• Hero leaves home.
• Hero told NOT to do something/go
somewhere & does.
• Hero meets the villain.
• Villain tries to get a “treasure”.
• Villain fools the hero who helps the
villain.
• Villain harms someone & their
property.
• Hero discovers misfortune & helps.
• Counteraction decided upon.
10. Fairy Tale Structure
Vladimir Propp, Morphology of the Folktale, Campbell, M. (2013). Malcolmsroundtable.com
• Hero leaves home.
• Hero is tested, helped or
attacked.
• Hero reacts to donor by
passing tests, solving problem,
performing a service.
• Hero obtains magic.
• Hero reaches treasure.
• Hero and villain fight.
• Hero “branded” via injury.
• Villain defeated.
• Problem/misfortune resolved.
• Hero heads home.
11. Vladimir Propp, Morphology of the Folktale, Campbell, M. (2013). Malcolmsroundtable.com
Fairy Tale Structure
• Hero pursued.
• Hero rescued/hides.
• Hero arrives home & family doesn’t recognize him/her.
• False hero comes.
• Hero faced with ordeal.
• Hero successfully faces ordeal.
• Mark helps others recognize the hero.
• False hero exposed.
• Hero is made whole (looks, clothing).
• Villain punished.
• Hero lives happily ever after.
31. Talking animals/objects
Word games
Common Motifs
Traveler’s tale
Poor wins
Human weaknesses Human strengths
Trickster
Guardians
Monsters
Quests
ShellyTerrell.com/fairytales
35. References
• Campbell, M. (2013). The Bare-Bones Structure of a Fairy Tale.
https://malcolmsroundtable.com/2013/06/15/the-bare-bones-
structure-of-a-fairy-tale
• Cisneros, T. (2008). Elements of a Fairy Tale Story. http://
penandthepad.com/elements-fairy-tale-story-8429713.html
• Dipple, S. (2009). Characteristics of Fairy Tales. http://
k5chalkbox.com/characteristics-of-fairy-tales.html
• Gokturk, V. (2016). Elements Found in Fairy Tales. http://
www.surfturk.com/mythology/fairytaleelements.html
• Schulze, P. (2018). Lesson Plan: Fairy Tales from Life. http://
readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/fairy-tales-
from-life-42.html
• Truby, D. (2014). 10 Fairy Tale Lesson Plans That Are Learning
Magic. http://weareteachers.com/fairy-tales-gone-wild-10-
creative-ways-to-teach-fairy-tales-2