Angelina Stanford, a literary scholar focused on fairy tales, joins Cindy Rollins, an expert in literary interpretation, to explore the significance of fairy stories. They dive into how these tales transcend mere escapism, revealing deeper truths about life and character. Stanford contrasts fairy tales with myths and addresses common misconceptions about gender roles in these narratives. They discuss the historical roots and cultural universality of tales like 'Sleeping Beauty,' emphasizing their rich metaphorical meanings and enduring relevance.

Literature experts Cindy Rollins, Angelina Stanford, and Thomas Banks discuss the value of reading old books, highlighting timeless wisdom and moral teachings. They contrast modern and classic literature, emphasizing critical thinking skills development. Exploring diversity in old books, they urge thoughtful engagement for changing perspectives and gaining historical insights.

Welcome to another episode in our “Best of The Literary Life Podcast” series. Today on The Literary Life Podcast, Angelina Stanford and Cindy Rollins tackle the topic of fairy stories, discussing the what, why and how of reading them. Angelina shares the distinctive characteristics of fairy stories in contrast to other types of stories, such as myths. They deal with the question of whether fairy tales are “escapist”, the influence of the Grimm brothers scholarly work on interpreting fairy stories, and allowing the story to unveil its deeper truths without forcing meaning onto it. Angelina gives an illustration of how to see the gospel messages in fairy tales by talking us through the story of Sleeping Beauty. She refutes the ideas that fairy tales are about human romance or are misogynistic. She also highlights some of the Enlightenment and Puritan responses to fairy tales that still linger with us today. Cindy and Angelina also discuss some common concerns such as the magical, weird, or scary aspects of fairy tales. Angelina also makes a distinction between folk tales, literary fairy tales, and cautionary tales. Other Literary Life series openers referenced in this episode: Episode 20: An Experiment in Criticism by C. S. Lewis Episode 71: Phantastes by George MacDonald Episode 30: The Literary Life of Caitlin Beauchamp Commonplace Quotes: After a certain kind of sherry party, where there have been cataracts of culture but never on word or one glance that suggested a real enjoyment of any art, any person, or any natural object, my heart warms to the schoolboy on the bus who is reading Fantasy and Science Fiction rapt and oblivious of all the world beside.  C. S. Lewis Children are not deceived by fairy tales. They are often and gravely deceived by school stories. Adults are not deceived by science fiction. They can be deceived by stories in women’s magazines. C. S. Lewis Both fairy stories and realistic stories engage in wish fulfillment, but it is actually the realistic stories that are more deadly. Fairy stories do awaken desires in children, but most often it is not a desire for the fairy world itself. Most children don’t really want there to be dragons in modern England. Instead, the desire is for they know not what. This desire for something beyond does not empty the real world, but actually gives it new depths. He does not despise real woods because he has read of enchanted woods. The reading makes all real woods a little enchanted. C. S. Lewis Ancient History by Siegfried Sassoon Adam, a brown old vulture in the rain,    Shivered below his wind-whipped olive-trees;   Huddling sharp chin on scarred and scraggy knees,   He moaned and mumbled to his darkening brain;   ‘He was the grandest of them all—was Cain!    ‘A lion laired in the hills, that none could tire;   ‘Swift as a stag; a stallion of the plain, ‘Hungry and fierce with deeds of huge desire.’ Grimly he thought of Abel, soft and fair— A lover with disaster in his face, And scarlet blossom twisted in bright hair.   ‘Afraid to fight; was murder more disgrace? … ‘God always hated Cain’ … He bowed his head— The gaunt wild man whose lovely sons were dead. Book List: Phantastes by George MacDonald The World’s Last Night by C. S. Lewis An Experiment in Criticism by C. S. Lewis “On Three Ways of Writing for Children” by C. S. Lewis Surprised by Joy by C. S. Lewis The Princess and The Goblin by George MacDonald Support The Literary Life: Become a patron of The Literary Life podcast as part of the “Friends and Fellows Community” on Patreon, and get some amazing bonus content! Thanks for your support! Connect with Us: You can find Angelina and Thomas at HouseofHumaneLetters.com, on Instagram @angelinastanford, and on Facebook at Angelina Stanford – House of Humane Letters. Find Cindy at MorningTimeforMoms.com, on Instagram @cindyordoamoris and on Facebook at Cindy Rollins – Writer. Check out Cindy’s own Patreon page also! Follow The Literary Life on Instagram, and jump into our private Facebook group, The Literary Life Discussion Group, and let’s get the book talk going! http://bit.ly/literarylifeFB

In this podcast, Angelina Stanford and Thomas Banks discuss the controversial magic in Harry Potter, the origins and publishing journey of the series, orphaned characters and boarding school stories in literature, literary archetypes and schoolboy stories, and the introduction and first chapters of Book 1. They explore living conditions, character behavior, Harry's unique encounters, and reflections on the first two chapters, setting the stage for a deeper dive into the world of Harry Potter.

Commonplace Tales: Tales of Imagination––Stories, again, of the Christmas holidays, of George and Lucy, of the amusements, foibles, and virtues of children in their own condition of life, leave nothing to the imagination. The children know all about everything so well that it never occurs to them to play at the situations in any one of these tales, or even to read it twice over. But let them have tales of the imagination, scenes laid in other lands and other times, heroic adventures, hairbreadth escapes, delicious fairy tales in which they are never roughly pulled up by the impossible––even where all is impossible, and they know it, and yet believe. Charlotte Mason, Vol. 1, Home Education Show Summary: Today on the New Mason Jar, Cindy and Dawn chat with friends Angelina Stanford and Timilyn Downey about the building blocks of stories in relation to a Charlotte Mason education How Angelina came to learn about Charlotte Mason Why Timilyn values the building blocks of story so much What are stories versus literature? What is the difference between how modernity sees art and stories and how the medievals saw them? What is wrong with the idea of literature as a mirror or a window? Some metaphors for approaching story Why are unit studies problematic in approaching a Charlotte Mason education? How can you learn the language of literature so that you can teach your children?   Last but not least, the fact that the story does not turn on children, and does not foster that self-consciousness, the dawn of which in the child is, perhaps, the individual “Fall of Man.” Charlotte Mason, Formation of Character   Books Mentioned: Northrop Frye C. S. Lewis J. R. R. Tolkien Harold Goddard “Meditation on a Toolshed” by C. S. Lewis Aesop’s Fables illus. by Jerry Pinkney He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands illus. by Kadir Nelson   Find Cindy, Angelina, and Timilyn: Morning Time for Moms Cindy’s Patreon Discipleship Group Mere Motherhood Facebook Group The Literary Life Podcast Cindy’s Facebook Cindy’s Instagram House of Humane Letters Angelina’s Facebook Angelina’s Instagram The Literary Life Online Conference 2023

Angelina Stanford, a literary genre expert, and Cindy Rollins, a myth interpretation host, dive into the importance of reading myths. They challenge the common misconception that myths are untruths, exploring their deeper significance in understanding literature and faith. Angelina discusses the role of pre-Christian storytellers and their contributions to truth, while Cindy emphasizes how mythology enriches moral lessons in biblical texts. Together, they highlight the profound relationship between early Christianity and pagan narratives, demonstrating how mythology shapes understanding of spirituality.

Angelina Stanford, an enthusiastic speaker on the importance of fairy tales and myths, returns to explore the captivating realm of mythology. She discusses what defines myth and its significance in education, especially for children. The conversation highlights the links between ancient myths and Christian narratives, addressing humanity's quest for meaning and the parallels between the tale of Orpheus and the gospel. Stanford emphasizes storytelling's role in teaching valuable truths and how these stories can shape moral understanding in modern contexts.

Andrew Kern and Angelina Stanford discuss Act 3 of Much Ado About Nothing, exploring themes of self-deception, verse/prose usage, and character status. They dissect the famous deception scene, highlighting the play's nuances and Shakespeare's storytelling prowess.

Angelina Stanford, a passionate advocate for literature and storytelling, delves into the enchanting world of fairy tales and their profound connections to the Gospel. She explores how these timeless stories challenge materialism and illuminate deeper spiritual truths. Listen in as she discusses the importance of engaging with fairy tales to rediscover wonder, navigate potential challenges for young readers, and embrace themes of hope and redemption that echo through both fairy tales and Christian teachings.

Angelina Stanford, a passionate educator with over twenty-five years in literature, joins the conversation to challenge traditional homeschooling methods. They tackle the complex role of history in education, sharing insights on how to effectively engage children through literature. Angelia discusses the transformative nature of reading, the importance of moral clarity in children's stories, and the need for flexibility in educational frameworks. Their humorous anecdotes about learning Latin add a light touch to this thought-provoking discussion on classical education.