Fairytales Spark Ethics Debate ~ Puss In Boots and Jack and the Beanstalk

Fairytales Spark Ethics Debate ~ Puss In Boots and Jack and the Beanstalk

What better way to spark a spirited classroom debate on ethics than by exploring the complex messages often found in fairytales?

Children enjoy a cozy familiarity with fairy tales. By basing a discussion of ethics on fairytales, you are launching from common ground. Children aged eight and older typically are ready for meatier ethical concepts, concepts that skirt into gray areas of lesser evils or relative priorities.

Following are a few suggestions drawn from the land of fairytales to get your students’ thought wheels spinning.

 

PUSS IN BOOTS: WHEN IS TRICKERY JUSTIFIED?

In the classic French fairytale “Puss in boots,” a clever cat engineers a succession of hoaxes and lies for the benefit of his master. As a result, his master eventually marries the king’s daughter and appoints Puss in Boots prime minister. All parties live happily ever after.

You can print a text version of Puss in Boots from the Internet. A well-illustrated version of the story is also available in The Golden Book of Fairy Tales, by Marie Ponsot (Golden Books).

The story begins with the introduction of a young man whose poor father has died and left him with nothing but a cat named Puss in Boots. The cat proves tireless in his devotion to his master and begins by delivering a sequence of gifts (rabbits, pheasants, and other game) to the king and queen. Each time, Puss in Boots announces that the gifts are from “the Marquis of Carabas.” Naturally, the king comes to believe the Marquis of Carabas is a person of great consequence.

Here, you might ask young readers, “Was Puss in Boots wrong to lie to the king and to deceive him?” The absolute quality of honesty can be leveled against the compelling urges of loyalty and friendship.

After several clever tricks, Puss in Boots leads the king and his lovely young daughter to a castle belonging to an ogre. Running ahead of the group, the frisky feline dares the ogre to transform himself into a mouse. When the ogre successfully transforms himself, Puss in Boots promptly pounces on the hapless creature and devours him. That enables his young master, who arrives moments later with the king and his entourage, to claim that the castle is his own. In so doing, the young man clinches his nuptial prospects with the king’s daughter.

Here, you can further challenge your students: “Was the cat wrong to trick the ogre and then kill him?” Youngsters who argued earlier that the king was in no way damaged by the verbal deceptions and exaggerations of Puss in Boots must reckon with an act leading to an untimely death.

Finally, pose this question: “Is trickery ever justified?” Challenge students to support their positions, whatever they may be, with cogent arguments.

JACK AND THE BEANSTALK: WHAT IS STEALING?

This classic story offers a twist on the theme of honesty. We all know the story of young Jack, whose impoverished mother is left with nothing but the family cow. Jack is sent to market to trade the cow for as much money as he can. Jack is tricked into trading the cow for a handful of beans. In despair, his mother throws the worthless beans out the window.

Overnight, a giant beanstalk grows into the sky. When Jack climbs to the top of the beanstalk, he finds the home of a mean giant. Narrowly escaping from the giant with his life, Jack scampers down the beanstalk with two treasures stolen from the giant – a goose that lays golden eggs, and a magic harp. Thus, Jack happily secures the future for himself and his mother.

You might begin by reiterating that Jack faced imminent danger in the giant’s house (“Fee! Fi! Fo! Fum! I smell the blood of an Englishman!”). Ask: “Since the giant wanted to eat Jack, was it OK that Jack stole the giant’s goose and harp?”

Listen carefully to the arguments raised, pro and con. You might follow up with this remark: “Jack was an intruder in the giant’s house. Since Jack chose to enter the giant’s house, does that change your opinion?”

This exercise is also recommended: “Pretend you are the giant. Describe what happens when Jack arrives in your house and how you feel about it.”

In a 19th-century version of Jack and the Beanstalk, a fairy is introduced when Jack is climbing up the beanstalk. The fairy informs Jack that Jack’s father used to be a wealthy and prosperous landowner but a mean giant killed the father, stole everything his father owned, and reduced Jack’s mother and her infant son to poverty. That giant, according to the fairy, is the one who lives at the top of the beanstalk. By destroying the giant, Jack will restore his family wealth.

This version of the fairytale opens another line of questioning: “In the story where the giant had stolen everything from Jack’s father, do you think it was OK for Jack to take it back?” Most youngsters will heartily agree.

Follow up with this question: “What if it had been the giant’s father who had stolen everything from Jack’s father; would it still be OK for Jack to take the treasures?” Then ask: “What if it had been the giant’s grandfather who had stolen everything from Jack’s grandfather?” And then ask: “What if it had been 100 years before that the giant’s ancestor had stolen everything? Do you think it would still be OK for Jack to take the treasures?” Try to find the amount of elapsed time necessary, according to students, to justify Jack’s taking the treasures. Challenge them to defend their point of view.

 

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FROM THE ELEPHANT PIT: IS COMPASSION PRACTICAL?

There’s a folktale from Tibet, “From the Elephant Pit,” that raises the question of whether compassion is always a good idea.

The story tells the tale of a hunter who dug pits to catch and trap wild elephants. One day, he comes to the pit and discovers that trapped inside the elephant pit were a man, a lion, a mouse, a snake, and a falcon. The lion warns the hunter not to rescue the human. Says the lion: “I and the other animals will prove grateful to you and will help you for your kindness to us, so rescue them. But please leave the man in the pit, for I warn you, he will forget your kindness and do you harm.” However, the hunter rescues all the animals and the man.

The other animals, indeed, later repay the kindness to the hunter. As the lion had foretold, the man betrays him. At the end of the story, the betrayal of the man is revealed, the hunter is appointed chief hunter to the king, and all ends well.

Children are asked this question: “Do you think the hunter was better off because he rescued the man from the pit? If you think yes, why? If you think no, why not?”

Following is a sampling of responses from youngsters who responded:

  • “Yes, you should always save someone in need.” — Vance, age 10
  • “No, because if he would have left him he wouldn’t have gone through all that trouble.” — Tara, age 11
  • “No, because the man tricked the hunter and ruined his life.” — Newt, age 9
  • “Yes, because he did something very kind, which is the best reward anyone could get.” — Laura, age 10
  • “Yes, because he got to be the king’s top man.” –Shawn, age 7

TIPS FOR MANAGING A CLASSROOM DEBATE ON ETHICS

  • Before you begin a lesson that will lead to a debate about ethical issues, let children know that you are going to read a story and then you will be asking some questions about the story.
  • At the end of the story, allow children time to consider their personal responses to your questions, and ask each child to write down her or his response.
  • Break the class into small groups for discussion. Then hold a general discussion. You might want to list the arguments cited, pro and con, on different sides of your chalkboard or whiteboard.
  • Continue to look for opportunities in stories to raise questions for ethical debate. Your best source material will be stories that children already enjoy, such as fairytales and folk tales. However, modern stories and popular television shows and movies also provide opportunities for ethics duscussions.
  • Here’s a final rule of thumb: If the children enjoy a story, consider it a candidate for an ethics debate! Over time, as long as you keep those discussions alive, the capacity for youngsters to understand the complexities of ethical issues will grow.

Elaine L. Lindy is an expert on storytelling for character education. As Founder of Whootie Owl International, Lindy created “Absolutely Whootie: Stories to Grow By,” ( https://storiestogrowby.org ) a Web site that presents a selection of fairytales and folktales from around the world with positive messages for kids. Each tale is upbeat, “kid-tested,” nondenominational, footnoted, and free to educators or home users. The Web site has been recognized by USA Today, Highlights for Children, Teachers.net, and The New York Times on the Web.

Elaine L. Lindy, Founder
Whootie Owl International
PO Box 600344
Newton, MA 02460
877-WHOOTIE (946-6843)

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Elaine_L_Lindy/1226617

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