English Literature Fairy Tale Assignment

English LiteratureFairy Tale AssignmentFar more than simple stories for children, fairy tales serve as a means of transmitting the norms and values of a society from one generation to the next, and can also provide a cultural space for anxieties or fears to be resolved in a satisfying way for readers, whether they are adults or children. In class, we will have discussed key elements of folktales and fairy stories. Moreover, we have examined how those tales have been interpreted and re-interpreted for a variety of reasons, including, for example: to fit the designs of a particular context or setting, whether that be cultural/ historical; orin order to challenge the norms or values of a particular society; or perhaps in order to sell more products using easily recognisable narratives within advertising.Contemporary authors and scholars are particularly interested in the way in which these tales can be subverted in order to create new meanings. The concept of subversion is one which is essential to your understanding of this assignment, and should be kept in the forefront of your mind while you are deciding which tale you want to work with. We will have looked at several key examples of subversion in class.The first step as you begin to work with your tale is to consider the original story carefully, as well as any variations that you find. What is the meaning of the tale? How has that changed according to context? Is that message still relevant to contemporary society, or can the tale be adapted to reflect more modern values or concerns?You need to produce a re-telling which changes or challenges the traditional perception of the tale in some way. You could, for example, re-tell the story from the antagonist’s perspective, or change the setting in order to give it a fresh interpretation. Consider changing any of the following:• the gender of the protagonist/ antagonist,• the historical period or culture in which the narrative is set• the outcome or resolution of the tale,• a symbolic item or character (e.g. give animals human identities, perhaps, or make traditional items/ props more contemporary?),• the setting (this can be very effective),• the point of view,• the moral message of the tale,• or anything else which strikes you as appropriate.Don’t over-complicate: sometimes a simple change is all that is necessary in order to give an old story a new twist. Also, avoid re-telling parts of the story that are already familiar. Sometimes starting in a new place is a great way to provide a new perspective.A further possibility is to change the genrein which you are writing. You could use the traditional short story form (remembering that these tales are meant to be short, and read at bedtime), or you can try out another style of writing. You could use, for example:• a poem• a play• a screenplay• a song• a rap• a newspaper article or front page• a diary entryRemember to make use of the conventions for writing in your chosen genre (e.g. a script has a particular presentation style, with characters speaking in dialogue and stage directions given in brackets, etc…).Components:Your assignment will be divided into three components. Each of the following will be summatively marked, as noted below:Component Description Weighting Due DatePART 1:Seminar Poster Presentation Prepare a poster that gives an overview of your work in progress. Be prepared to discuss this with your colleagues. You will get feedback from your peers and your tutors that will help you to develop your written work. 30%Week 6 & 7(your tutor will advise you of your date and time)PART 2:Written Re-telling You need to submit a written re-working of the story, with an appropriate beginning, middle & ending. This must be your own unique interpretation, neither too similar to the original, nor to any other student’s work. There is no word limit for this part of the assignment, but do remember to stay focussed. 30%No min/ max word limit, as this can vary widely depending on genre (see point 4, below) Week 10Thursday 15th DecPART 3:Critical Reflection & Bibliography Discuss the decisions you have taken in your new version of the story, placing your discussion within the context of literature and critical work on the tale you have chosen. You need to supply a bibliography for this component. 40%Approx.1000 words + bibliography Week 10Thursday 15th DecPoints to note:1. Decide which folk tale, fairy tale or myth you are going to work with straightaway, and research what variations, if any, there are. If you feel that your chosen tale is one which will not be familiar to the other students, you must explain (briefly) what happens in the version you are using as your base. Youmust not select a tale that has been discussed extensively already in class (e.g. Little Red Riding Hood).2. As you start to research your tale, consider several versions, consider the moral meaning or message in the tale. Keep in mind the conventions for fairy tales that we have discussed in class, and consider what elements you can change to give that a new twist.3. For your poster presentation, you need to prepare a visual aide that will guide the audience through the researchyou have conducted, as well as what you have planned for the written piece of work. You will be marked on:delivery (including tone, intonation, speed, clarity, body language, eye contact and use of visual aids); evidence of independent research and engagement with key concepts; organisation; and your use of language(both written and oral). You should use the feedback from your tutor and your peers to develop your written assignment. Students have also brought in illustrated copies of texts and/ or used Pinterest boards in order to add depth to their discussion.4. There are two parts to the written assignment. The first is the re-telling of the story, which will be marked on the creativity of content and language; evidence of independent research and engagement with key concepts (e.g. subversion, parody, etc…); the development of the narrative; and your use of language. Make sure your tale has a beginning, middle and a suitable ending. Make sure your story is neither too long nor too short (try reading your story aloud: about 5 – 10 minutes is about right). Again, consider where to start your story: avoid going over territory that is already familiar. Instead, start in medias res; that is, in the middle of the (new!) action. Remember: show, don’t tell; that is,action is interesting, while too much narrative summary can be boring for readers).5. Your critical reflection (approximately 1000 words) will be marked on how well you have demonstrated an understanding of the assignment, through the use of reflection and reference to independent research. You need to show a clear rationale for the changes you have made in order to update your tale, and also demonstrate evidence of wide reading through the use of referencing within your discussion, as well as provide a bibliography. Make sure your discussion is supported by academic research. There are some suggested texts below which should help you with this part of the assignment, and you should also conduct your own independent