Lethologica's blog

 
“Of course, no other world was carried through the starry infinity on the backs of four giant elephants, who were themselves perched on the shell of a giant turtle. His name—or her name, according to another school of thought—was Great A’Tuin; he—or, as it might be, she—will not take a central role in what follows but it is vital to an understanding of the Disc that he—or she—is there, down below the mines and sea ooze and fake fossil bones put there by a Creator with nothing better to do than upset archaeologists and give them silly ideas.”

"The idea of the sleeper, of somebody hidden from mortal eye, waiting until the time shall ripen has always been dear to the folkly mind." This was said by P.L. Travers, the author of Mary Poppins, and  she did not say it without just cause. Throughout history, spanning different cultures, there are countless tales, myths and legends that fit comfortably into this model, providing ample example for her claim. There has been Brunhilde trapped, sleeping behind a wall of fire in Germany, King Arthur waiting, asleep on the mystical island of Avalon, the twelve golden knights sleeping in their grand hall in Sweden, and the three Tells in Switzerland, sleeping in their hidden cave, to name only a few.

           Throughout the ages fairytales have existed, teaching children and guiding them through the difficult process of growing up. The fairytale, the story told to children to make them behave, or learn some valuable lesson or value, or even simply to keep them busy, might be considered a staple for many (if not most) cultures. However, despite this inherent similarity between every single fairytale, this genre is by nature incredibly fluid, easily changing in form and content from culture to culture, and time period to time period.