Metamorphosis: The Dynamics of Symbolism in European Fairy Tales

by Francisco Vaz da Silva, Carolyn Dundes (Editor)

Overview

Folklorists have become renowned for concentrating on aspects of form and classification to the detriment of content and meaning. Metamorphosis: The Dynamics of Symbolism in European Fairy Tales seeks to reverse this tendency in showing, through an examination of the folkloric data, that European fairy tales involve complex symbolism. This book seeks to explain – in reference to the notion of metamorphosis – the puzzling contradictory attributes of fairy-tale figures that have discouraged the study of meanings in this field and proposes that the workings of metamorphosis in fairy tales reveal a pervasive cyclic ontology that underlies mythology and ritual. The issue of universal symbolism is again examined – divested from any «archetypal» generalizations – as a subject of worthy reflection.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780820458083
Publisher:	Peter Lang Inc., International Academic Publishers
Publication date:	09/04/2002
Series:	International Folkloristics , #1
Pages:	280
Product dimensions:	6.30(w) x 9.06(h) x (d)

About the Author

The Author: Francisco Vaz da Silva is Assistant Professor of Anthropology and Folklore at ISCTE Instituto Superior das Ciências do Trabalho e da Empressa, University of Lisbon, where he also received his Ph.D. in Symbolic Anthropology. He has published numerous articles in professional journals in Europe and America.

Editorial Reviews

Vaz da Silva (anthropology and folklore, U. of Lisbon, Portugal) applies his expertise as an anthropologist to folklore. The study analyzes folktales thematically, including an exhaustive treatment of the critical sources for each, supplying much of the symbolism from the theories of Freud and L<'e>vi-Strauss. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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