English Literature and Fairytales

Education facts

Code: ENGC21

<p>Discover how fairy tales have been shaped by their time and culture. In this course, you read English-language fairy tales, analyse their themes and symbols, and explore how they reflect and influence society - both then and now.</p><p>In this course, you learn about fairy tales as a literary genre, narrative technique and cultural phenomenon. You mainly read fairy tales from the English-speaking world, both old and more modern, but you also encounter variations of the same tales from different cultural contexts. </p><p>Throughout the course, you work with key themes and theories associated with the genre. These include how fairy tales are structured, how they relate to the norms and ethical issues of their time, and how they can be interpreted from feminist, queer and postcolonial perspectives. You also study important symbols and metaphors that frequently recur in fairy tales. </p><p>As you analyse and discuss the texts, you will have the opportunity to reflect on the role fairy tales play in today’s culture and society - and why they continue to fascinate, challenge and influence us.</p>

Entry requirements

General entry requirements and 30 credits in English.

Education offerings

Each offering has its own dates and conditions. Closed offerings are retained as history and do not mean that a new application is open.

• English Literature and Fairytales

  Lund University

  Lund

  Start date: 2 November 2026

  End date: 17 January 2027

  Pace of study: 50 %