W9 - Fairies
Week Nine Overview
Reminder of Mid Semester Break
Mid Semester Break next week (Week 10) with no lectures or tutorials.
Students have historically confused this with regular tutorial weeks, leading to some attending tutorials despite it being a break.
Structure of the Upcoming Exam
Parts of the Exam:
Multiple Choice Section: 15 questions.
Short Answer Responses: Write a paragraph in response to 5 prompts. If struggling, at least 2 prompts should be manageable.
Essay Section: Write a detailed essay in response to 4 prompts. The essay will contain an introduction, 2-3 argumentative paragraphs, and a conclusion.
No word limit on the essay; enough time to manage writing.
Transition to Content on Fairies
Recap of previous lectures on the devil and supernatural concepts.
Previous discussion on definitions and changes in perceptions of supernatural elements such as miracles and the role of fear in such narratives.
Transitioning to Fairies
Historical Context of Fairies
Interest in the topic has been shown due to student demand. Fairies originally taught by the course founder over a decade ago.
Introduction of the Cottingley Fairy incident (1917) as a key narrative on belief in fairies:
Story of Frances Griffith and Elsie Wright: Two cousins who claimed to have encountered fairies and provided photographic evidence which allegedly convinced many, including notable figures.
Their mother, being part of the Theosophical Society, showed eagerness to believe in their claims, underscoring trends of the time regarding supernatural beliefs.
Cultural Significance of Fairies:
Reflects broader themes in religious studies and psychological perceptions of supernatural experiences.
Fairies serve a narrative function that often reflects human fears and desires.
Defining Fairies and Their Characteristics
Traditional notions of fairies
Commonly depicted as small and winged (e.g., Tinker Bell), this influences perceptions of fairies.
C.S. Lewis’ Early Views:
Critiques modern interpretations of fairies, emphasizing the consistent historical narrative function of fairies rather than cute depictions.
Variability in Descriptions:
Historical texts show that fairies were often not small, and could be giants or human-sized, highlighting their capricious nature.
Yeats' Contributions:
Irish poet Yeats argued that fairy tales encapsulate broader themes of humanity, emotions, and cultural nostalgia.
He attempted to categorize fairies based on their societal roles:
Sociable and Kind Fairies: More benign entities in stories.
Nasty Solitary Fairies: Often portrayed as terrifying or angry, such as the Dullahan (headless fairy).
Function of Fairies in Culture:
Fairies are often seen operating outside human moral conventions.
They embody both the idyllic and threatening aspects of life, reflecting human fears and desires.
Historical Evolution
Transition from Belief to Skepticism:
Cultural shifts throughout history show varying levels of belief and skepticism toward fairies.
Conan Doyle's Advocacy: Noted author expressed strong belief in fairies despite rational skepticism surrounding scientific advancements of the time.
Rise of Anti-Fairy Sentiment:
With modernization and rise of rational thought, fairies became associated with delusion and superstition.
Notable works in the Protestant Reformation labeled fairy beliefs as demonic or indicative of ignorance.
The Interaction with Monotheism
Survival of Fairy Beliefs:
Major gods and pantheons often replaced by monotheistic structures, we still find persistence of third-category beings like fairies.
Fairies often subsumed into Christian narratives or demonized without full loss of belief.
Contemporary Re-enchantments:
Modern interest in paganism and new age movements resurrect fairy beliefs, often framing them as lost parts of cultural history that connect back to nature and human existence.
Fairies have become part of environmental activism in contemporary movements, reaffirming their role in society.
Summary
The belief in fairies reflects deeper psychological, cultural, and historical dynamics surrounding conceptions of the supernatural, morality, and cultural changes over time.
Examining the fairy phenomenon reveals trends in belief, skepticism, and cultural transitions, particularly how interconnected they are with existential fears, desires, and cultural narratives.