Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research

Mohamed Kheider University of Biskra

Faculty of Letters and Languages

Department of Foreign Languages

Section of English

Tradition and Innovation in Contomporary Retellings of “Cinderella and

SnowWhite in the Tale of the Shoe” and “The Tale of the Apple” by Emma

Donghon

A research proposal presented to the Department of Foreign Languages

as partial fulfilment for the Master’s Degree in Literature and Civilization

Submitted by: Supervised by:

Bellebcir Halima Mr.Adel Boulegroune

2017/2018
Introduction

From the beginning of the humanity, stories and stories were told for different

purposes; some are to instruct, to amuse or even to convey some moral and social Commented [U1]: Reformulate it.

values. Some of those tales; moreover, were real and some include imaginary

elements of imaginary creatures witches, etc. In fact, those imaginary tales developed

and elaborated in what we call now fairy tale genre that became popular among

children and children literature, although it was not meant for children in the first Commented [U2]: ??????

place. And as far nursery rhymes are considered, their imaginary elements feed the

hunger and curiousity of young children imagination, especially the Seventeenth

centry French Charles Perrault Fairies. Although Charles Perrault was not the first one

to tell fairies, but his stories were the raw material of which existed many

contomporary fairies among them Emma's Donghon "Kissing the Witch" short

stories. The renarration of Emma keeps some traditional elements but challenges and Commented [U3]: New versions

criticizes others that existed in old Charles Perrault and the Grimm Brothers

especially the way that female portrayal was concidered since then.

Statment of the problem:

As far as Emma Donghon is concerned, she wrote a collection of short stories

called among these short stories so 1999 "the Tale of the Shoe" and" the Tale of the Commented [U4]: Reformulate it.

Apple" chalenges and even deviates from the traditional portrayals of Cinderellas in

Charles Perrault and the Grimm Brothers Ashputtel and Snow White. For Emma,

Cinderella and Snow White are independent and free to take their decisions and the

step mothers are not as wicked and villanious as are portrayed before but it is what
patriarchal society pictured their images that become later stereotypical ones in

traditional fairy tales.

What has been stated by Emma Donghon challenges the old tales portrayals of female

characters of being dependent, obedient, passive and not willing to achieve anything

unless an external magic power or a prince charming rescues them. What intersts us

is that how these innovations in Emma's Donghon versions changed the way female

portrayals to suite the new modern world.

Research Question:

How does female characterization in contemporary versions of Emma Donghon

differ from the previous versions of Cinderella by Charles Perrault and The Grimm

Brothers and Snow White? Commented [U5]: Reformulate this research question. It is
grammatically awkward.

Research Questions:

1.What are the norms on which female portrayals depend in the traditional

Cinderellas and Snow White?

2.What are the innovative elements in the portrayal of females in the contemporary

versions of Cinderella and Snow White?

3. In what way are the contemporary nursery tales of Emma "The Tale of the

Shoe"and the Tale of the Apple" differ in their portrayals of female characters to the

traditonal Cinderellas and Snow White?

Aims:

This study aims to

1. shed light on how gender unequalities are planted in children books.

2. help find out in the conclusion whether the contemporary fairies are deviating from

their didactic purposes and social moralites than the traditional ones.
3. hind out to what extent feminist writings have changed the pre image of the female Commented [U6]: ??????

characters.

4.how feminist writings criticised classical fairy tales.

Scope of the Study:

This descriptive study will focus mainly on the change of the characterization of

females in two contemporary versions by Emma Donghon of Cinderellas and Snow

White.

Structure of research :

Our study is constructed with the theoretical part that contains definitions of the key

terms as the feminist the archetypal and the formalist approaches. Plus, we will define Commented [U7]: Use another transitional signal.

children literature as a genre and to determine the problematic nature of the label.

Moreover, the second chapter is mainly devoted to know how traditional

characterization of the mentioned female characters. Then, the next points are devoted

to the new and innovative elements that appear in the contemporary revisions of

Cinderelas and Snow White that challenge the preexisting stereotypical images to

female characters. Finally, the findings will be stated in the general conclusion.

Methodology:

This study is a descriptive analytical one based on three approaches; the feminist,

the archetypal criticism by Jack Lacan and the Formalist approach. Data will be

collected from books, thus it is a library research. Moreover, in order to analyze data, Commented [U8]: Only books ?!!!!!

we will select randomly examples to illustrate our point of view.

Preliminary Outline:

General Introduction

Chapter One: Literature Review and Theoratical Background

 Introduction

1. 1. Definition of the Feminist Approach

2. Definition of the Archetypal Criticism

3. Definition of the Formalist Approach

4. Definition of Children Literature

5. The Problematic Nature of the Label

6. Fairy Tales as a Genre of Children Literature

6.1. Characteristics of Nursery Tales

6.2. The Necessity and Importance of Fairy Tales as Educational Instrument for

Children

6.3. The necessity and importance of Fairy Tales as Instrument of Raising

awarness and Imagination for Children

Conclusion

Chapter Two: Traditional norms of female portrayal in Charles Perrault and the

Grimm Brothers Cinderellas and Grimm Snow White Commented [U9]: delete

Introduction

2. 1. Representations of Cinderella and her stepmother in Little Glass Slipper and

Ashputtel:

1.1. Cinderella as a Girl and a Female Character

1.2. Cinderella archetypal Images

1.3. The Stepmother as Female Character Commented [U10]: this is an unnecessary tautology.

1.4. The Step mother archetypal Images

2. Representation of Snow white and her step mother in Snom White and Seven

Dwarfs:

2.1. Snow White as Female Character

2.2. Snow White archetypes

2.3. The stepmother as a Female character

2.4. The stepmother Stereotypes

Conclusion

Chapter Three: Innovative and New Standards of Female Characterization in

contemporary Versions Emma Donghon of Cinderllas and Snow White Commented [U11]: Reformalate it. It is awkward.

Introduction

3. 1. Fairy Tales and Feminism:A New Perspective

1. Feminist Movements

2. Women as Female Writers

3. Challenging traditions of traditional Fairy Tale in the Tale of the Shoe:

3.1. Cinderella as a Female Character

3.2. Cinderella stereotypes

3.3. The Step mother as a Social Idea

4. Challenging Tradition of Traditional Fairy Tales the Tale of the Apple by Emma

Donghon:

4.1. The Step mother by the Tale of the Apple by Emma Donghon

6.2. The Step mother archetypes

5. The Use of First Person Narrator in each version.

Conclusion

General Conclusion:

Discussion of the Major Findings

Future Perspective
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