4 stars
A fascinating look into the Jungian analysis of fairy tales.
This book is based on a series of lectures given at the C. G. Jung Institute. It is not meant to be a complete interpretation of global fairy tales (the original title was actually An Introduction to the Interpretation of Fairy Tales ). Rather it is a resource that helps teach ways to apply Jungian analysis to fairy tales, complete with explanation through examples. The author is clear in noting that the significance of the various motifs, characters, and events present in a story or dream will be specific to the individual, but offers possible interpretations to demonstrate how one could go about the process and shed some light on possible archetypal experiences.
With that in mind, I would not say this is necessarily a good fit for someone interested in fairy tales with no background in psychology, specifically Jung. When going into this, it may be helpful to have a basic understanding of Jung’s teachings and understand main concepts like the anima, the animus, and the shadow. As someone with a BA in Psychology and a love for writing fairy tale retellings, this was a fun read that combined some of my favorite things.
The book itself includes many mostly-European tales used as examples with possible ways to interpret them. The main example is “The Three Feathers”, but other smaller examples are also incorporated, especially in the final chapter. This interpretation includes pulling together word meanings, cultural significance, historical periods and events, and basic psychological connections. I found this a very interesting way to gain insight into the struggles and issues of the time that people were dealing with when such stories originated.
The book was well-written and generally easy to understand if one already has experience with the building blocks of psychology and some basic understanding of Jung’s theories. A fascinating look at the meaning of fairy tales, what they can teach us about individuals, and what they can teach us about the cultures from which they originated.