On the Margins of Czech Fairy Tales

The cultural tradition of any community makes a great influence upon the character of an individual growing in that community. It plays an important role in the formation of an individual’s views of life, value system, behaviour patterns, and personal relations to others. An investigation into oral literature has meaning not only as a part of study of national literature, but sheds light on the understanding of national culture and history, and helps to recognize specific sociocultural roots. Czech literary folklore is not a closed field of study. It represents diverse chronological and geographical layers. All great investigators of folktale reached the conclusion that the folk tale appears as a highly evolved artistic entity capable of communicating fundamental moods, it has been the overwhelming legacy of Czech culture. The main purpose of this paper is to figure out the diverse range of the Czech fairy tale, which is represented by many distinguished authors, and to mention its everlasting appeal. The folk tale is a vast genre, far beyond the limits of the novel, being mythology, ethics, science, moral reflection etc. The folk tale renders by an infinite variety of means. It is the resonance of common dreams of humanity. It draws its substance from primeval myths, it expresses a millenary life experience in fabulous dimensions. Like folk tales, riddles, legends and other folklore genres fairy tales are the products of inventiveness, analytical wit, talent for narrating and word games. They are characterized by skillful use of metaphor. Fairy tales speak of a great and moving aspiration to happiness, beauty and truth. Their popularity among readers clearly demonstrates that human desires and emotions continue strong and unchanging. Their rich ethical content connotes highly suggestive philosophical and poetic meaning, and a strong moral convention. Last but not least, the fairy tale in its wide range reflects the authors’ concern, anxiety, and responsibility for man’s future, as it was clearly expressed by František Hrubín: “If we feel anxiety and fear about a child, we feel anxiety and fear about man, about the Earth, about the present and the future.