Reading Highlights

The following may not cover all of the assigned readings for the lesson. Always be sure to check your syllabus schedule for reading specifics.

Jack Zipes | Waller Hastings

Jack Zipes

Jack Zipes' essay, "Hans Christian Andersen and the Discourse of the Dominated," takes you through Andersen's life. Zipes, who is a Marxist critic, describes the class conflicts that Andersen felt and how Andersen's tormented inner life worked its way out into his stories. Please note that although Zipes gives a lot of factual information about Andersen's life, the use he makes of this information stems from his Marxist assumptions about human life and culture.

Waller Hastings

Waller Hastings' essay, "Moral Simplification in Disney's The Little Mermaid," explores the differences in morality between Disney's movie The Little Mermaid and Andersen's original story. Children's fantasy literature is often developed into film and usually the film version lacks the complexity and subtlety that the original print version has. If you are able, watch the Disney movie and compare it to Andersen's story.