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Folktales and the Lives of the Poor in Early Modern Europe

Assignment Brief

Write a 1500-word essay in answer to any one of the questions below. The essay must include endnotes and a bibliography of works you have consulted (these do not count towards the word limit). 

  1. Dyer (1977) argues that ‘How we are seen determines how we are treated, and how we treat others is based on how we seem them. How we see them comes from representation’. Discuss with reference to EITHER the representation of black women in the set poems by India Hosten-Hughes OR chapter one of Sam Selvon`s `Lonely Londoners`.  
  2. Connell argues that there is not one masculinity, but many different masculinities, each associated with different positions of power. Discuss with reference to George Mpanga`s `The Blame Game` (2013) AND chapter one of Sam Selvon`s `Lonely Londoners`.  
  3. Love, creativity and curiosity are central to being human. Discuss with reference to the set extract from Orwell`s `1984` (1948).
  4. Maplesden argues `that idealized whiteness and femininity are discursively embodied in these Disney heroines in complex and contradictory ways`. How far do you agree/disagree with this argument? Your essay should make direct reference to Disney`s `Beauty and the Beast` (1991) AND `The Little Mermaid` (1989)
  5. According to Hall, in early representations `Black people were reduced to signifiers of their physical difference. […] Traces of these racial stereotypes persist` in popular representations today. (Hall, `Representations`, 1997) . How far do you agree? Please answer with reference to EITHER Mark Knight`s, cartoon of Syrena Williams after US Open, (Australian ‘Herald Sun’, 10/9/18) OR Jackie Kay`s poem `In my Country`, 1993.
  6. How is the title `Call Me By Your Name` significant? Think of what it means in terms of identity and identification and how it plays out in the rest of the film/novel (you may answer this question looking at the film, at the novel, or both).
  7. What can folktales reveal about the lives of the poor in Early Modern Europe?
  8. Luca Guadagnino’s take on André Aciman’s novel ‘Call Me by Your Name’ has been called “an adaptation that’s utterly faithful in spirit while necessarily distinct in execution”. Discuss, with explicit reference to both film and novel. 
  9. The story of `Little Red Riding Hood` was invented to teach young girls that they should not speak to strangers. Discuss.

Sample Answer

What can folktales reveal about the lives of the poor in Early Modern Europe?

Introduction

Folktales have long been understood as more than simple stories for children. In Early Modern Europe, they were central to the cultural and social life of poor communities. Passed down orally from one generation to another, folktales reflected everyday struggles, fears, values and hopes. For the poor, who were often excluded from formal education and written culture, folktales were not only a form of entertainment but also a tool of survival, teaching moral lessons, warning against danger, and providing an imaginative escape from hardship.

This essay argues that folktales provide valuable insight into the lives of the poor in Early Modern Europe. They reveal the economic struggles of ordinary people, their anxieties about hunger and social inequality, their understanding of justice and morality, and the importance of community and family ties. At the same time, folktales can be read as symbolic accounts of resistance and as ways of coping with powerlessness. By studying these stories, historians can reconstruct how the poor made sense of the world around them and the ways in which they expressed cultural identity.

Folktales and Oral Culture

Folktales in Early Modern Europe were part of an oral tradition, especially in rural communities where literacy was limited. The poor, unlike elites who had access to books and formal education, relied on spoken stories to transmit knowledge and values. The oral form also meant that folktales were adaptable: they could change depending on the teller, the audience, and the circumstances. This flexibility allowed them to remain relevant to the needs of the poor, reflecting issues such as hunger, harsh winters, or exploitative landlords.

The fact that folktales survived and were collected in later centuries by writers such as the Brothers Grimm shows their importance as cultural memory. They represent a “history from below”, giving voice to groups often absent from official documents and elite accounts.

Economic Hardship and Hunger

One of the most striking themes in folktales is hunger and poverty. Stories such as Hansel and Gretel, which feature abandoned children searching for food, reflect the very real experience of famine and scarcity in Early Modern Europe. The poor were highly vulnerable to bad harvests, rising food prices, and harsh taxation. Folktales use symbols such as empty cupboards, dangerous forests, and magical sources of food to express this anxiety.

The tale of the “magic porridge pot”, for example, presents food as both a blessing and a danger, reminding listeners of the delicate balance between survival and disaster. Such stories reveal that for the poor, food was never taken for granted but was at the centre of daily life and worry.

Social Hierarchies and Inequality

Folktales also reveal how the poor understood the social hierarchies of their time. Many stories involve peasants, servants, or youngest sons who face difficulties but eventually triumph over kings, nobles, or wealthy rivals. This reflects the resentment felt by the poor towards elites who held power over their lives.

At the same time, folktales often reinforced acceptance of social order by showing that characters succeed not by overthrowing authority but by displaying virtues such as cleverness, kindness, or hard work. The poor could imagine a world where justice might be achieved, but usually within the limits of the existing hierarchy. For example, Cinderella’s rise from servant to princess suggests both criticism of unfair treatment and hope that personal worth would eventually be recognised.

Morality and Justice

Folktales reveal the moral frameworks of poor communities. Justice in these stories is often swift and absolute: the wicked stepmother is punished, the greedy landlord is tricked, and the honest poor person is rewarded. This reflects the desire of the poor for fairness in a world where legal systems and courts often failed them.

Trickster characters, such as peasants who outsmart the rich, also show how humour and wit were valued as tools of survival. These tales carried lessons about caution, cooperation, and the dangers of greed or betrayal. They also reinforced community values, teaching children and adults alike how to behave in order to survive hardship.

Continued...


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