The History of Literature 743 Fairy Tales (with Jack Zipes) [RECLAIMED] | Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky (#11 GBOAT) | Chaucer News
Oct 23, 2025
Jack Zipes, Professor Emeritus of German and Comparative Literature, dives into the political power of fairy tales in his book, Buried Treasures. He illuminates how these stories confront social injustice and empower listeners, arguing they’re not just for children. Zipes critiques psychoanalytical interpretations of fairy tales and highlights writers who resisted fascism through imaginative narratives. The discussion also touches on the enduring shock of Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment and recent Chaucer discoveries. Fairy tales, he argues, are vital for fostering imagination and empathy.
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Einstein Told A Boy To Read Fairy Tales
- Jack Zipes recounts an old woman bringing her grandson to Albert Einstein and demanding advice about education.
- Einstein's blunt reply was that the boy should read fairy tales, and the woman took it as a command.
Fairy Tales Provide Imaginative Justice
- Zipes says fairy tales transported him into other societies and offered imaginative justice absent from real life.
- That estrangement helped him critique norms and imagine fairer outcomes.
Fairy Tales Reflect Real Social Hardships
- Zipes argues fairy tales often expose brutality and injustice rather than uphold elites.
- Tales like Hansel and Gretel or Little Red Riding Hood reflect real social dangers and responses.
