The responses of contemporary South African children to threshold experiences in Grimm fairy tales and African folk tales

Wolpert, Stacey

The responses of contemporary South African children to threshold experiences in Grimm fairy tales and African folk tales

dc.contributor.author	Wolpert, Stacey
dc.date.accessioned	2008-10-02T09:48:42Z
dc.date.available	2008-10-02T09:48:42Z
dc.date.issued	2008-10-02T09:48:42Z
dc.description.abstract	This study investigates the responses of contemporary South African, Grade one children to threshold experiences in Grimm fairy tales and African Zulu folk tales. Thresholds involve an exciting or challenging experience, or a transformation in stories. Three stories from each genre were read over six sessions, to ten diverse black and white children, from one school. The children’s enjoyment was assessed, with focus on their backgrounds and previous knowledge, to help find beneficial reading for them. Results suggested that while gender of characters and story origins did not seem important, story length, humour, entertainment and educational ability, as well as personal involvement, were useful. The study supported the notion that stories are generally universal and could help bridge our cultural divide. Reader-Response theory was used and its principles helped to structure questions for the interviews, and to analyse data. Hopefully, the findings will help to select appropriate texts for all children beginning school in present-day South Africa.	en
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10539/5711
dc.language.iso	en	en
dc.subject	fairy tales	en
dc.subject	folk tales	en
dc.subject	children's literature	en
dc.subject	South African children	en
dc.subject	Grimm	en
dc.subject	African stories	en
dc.subject	African folk tales	en
dc.title	The responses of contemporary South African children to threshold experiences in Grimm fairy tales and African folk tales	en
dc.type	Thesis	en