Fairy tales are with us throughout our lives. We hear them as children, read them in school, and encounter them in films, fantasy literature, and theatre. But not all fairy tales end ‘happily ever after’. Sometimes they are filled with darkness, threats, and monsters. This course will examine contexts ranging from the brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Anderson to ancient Greece, including China and Japan and, even earlier, Vedic India. We will explore reasons for the popularity of the dark fairy-tale in modern culture and the many ways in which the dark side of classic fairy tale texts have been transformed in literature, art, internet games, television and film. The course will consider a wide range of subject matter from well-known works of fantasy to more unusual, and perhaps surprising, sources, but, most of all, we will consider why these dark fairy-tales continue to fascinate us today.

• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of resources for the study of folktales and literature.
• Apply such ideas and arguments towards criticism and analysis of texts, whether from traditional sources, contemporary literature or film
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of current scholarly debates and to evaluate alternative views and interpretations.
• Demonstrate a critical understanding of the kinds of evidence that may be drawn from literature and folklore
• Demonstrate an understanding of a range of concepts and perspectives within the appropriate secondary literature.
• Identify the main trends, ideas and approaches in the study of traditional tales.
• Understand how to approach critically and interpret different evidence types, and recognise the difficulties of interpretation, particularly the limitations of the evidence.
• Present an argument accurately, succinctly and lucidly, and in written form;

The module will be delivered through ten 2-hour sessions. These sessions will consist of a 1 hour lecture followed by class discussion and group work on specific topics relating to the module. The discussion and group work will enable the students to think critically and contribute to the debates and topics presented during the lectures. The discussion-led sessions and the lectures will be supplemented by resources available to the students via Learning Central.

• The ability to communicate ideas and arguments effectively, whether in class discussion or in written form
• The ability to work effectively with others in groups and to learn collaboratively through discussion and interaction, showing respect for others’ reasoned views.
• The ability to think critically, analyse sources, evaluate arguments, and challenge assumptions.
• The ability to formulate and justify arguments and conclusions and present appropriate supporting evidence
• The ability to locate relevant resources in the library and online and use them appropriately in academic work
• The ability to use a range of information technology resources to assist with information retrieval and assignment presentation
• The ability to independently organise study methods, manage time effectively, and prioritise workload to meet deadlines

Assignment 1  (Source analysis) 30%  Exact nature of task will vary from year to year 

500 words    Week 5-6

Assignment 2  (Essay) 70% Exact nature of task will vary from year to year

1000 words         End of course

1. What makes a fairy-tale dark?
2. Fairy tale collecting from the ancient world to the Brothers Grimm.
3. Mothers, Monsters, and characters who are not what they seem to be
4. Can traditional heroines adapt to modern perils?
5. Dangerous journeys to alternate worlds
6. Ghouls, ghosts, evil fairies, and other supernatural beings
7. Dark magic and evil magicians in traditional and contemporary fiction
8. Demon lovers, vampires and outlaws
9. Confronting Godfather Death – the real villains of the fairy tale genre
10. Into the Woods, meetings with wolves, werewolves and other monsters