Fairy Tales - Reading Assignment #2

Charles Perrault’s 1697 fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood as translated by Andrew Lang (1889), implies that little girls who are not careful about who they speak with may be eaten up by a wolf. Perrault tells the story of a pretty little country girl on her way through the woods to see her grandmother who is stopped and approached by a wolf, who then goes ahead of the little girl to grandmother’s cottage and eats grandmother then lies in wait for the girl whom he then also devours. The purpose of the writing seems to be to convey a message about the dangers of speaking with “wolves”. The tale was written originally for the entertainment of the court of Versailles but later has been adopted by parents as a tool to teach children, particularly young girls about the dangers of speaking with anyone who may be a “wolf”.

This fairy tale which can be found on page 170 of our text, Convergences, does not end the way most fairy tales we know do, happily. When I was told this fairy tale as a child I remember a version that involved a woodcutter at the end of the story. The woodcutter not only saved Little Red Riding Hood but he also killed the wolf and cut open his belly to remove an unscathed grandmother from the viscera. This brings up the point of why do the endings of stories, in this case fairy tales, change from the original composition?

From the first telling of the tales with unhappy endings I can envision children sobbing or in a state of horror that their main hero or heroine has perished. The same story with a happy ending may be able to get across the same message or moral with out the unhappiness. This may not always be the case but may be true for some of our favorite short fairy tales.

Other reasons for the change of endings may have to do with mass marketing, such as in the film industry. Who would want to see Disney’s version of Cinderella, Snow White or Sleeping Beauty if they did not have happy endings. “Hollywood” changes endings all the time from the original composition. I do think it is important in some cases, other than just numbing entertainment, to know the true ending of the story so as not to miss what the original author is trying to convey or bring out in a story.

Market Photos

A vendor helps a patron at the Saturday farmers' market in downtown Chelsea. The market runs from 8A.M.-Noon May thru October.

Joan Lutchka's market tent as seen from the roadside

Inside Joan's market tent you can see winter squash, fall decorations and the last of the summer crops.

Self-Reliance, Marketing and Markets

Draft Self-Reliance, Marketing and Markets Draft


Pushing into the twenty-first century most everyone can identify with a cause. Some individuals are seeking to lessen their impact on the environment or even to heal it, while others are propagating a healthy eating agenda and some strive for self-sufficiency. Local governments are also working for a number of causes to sustain their own coffers at the same time providing for the community, consumer and business. Three articles were examined and summarized that show how individuals or entities are working in different ways, sometimes against one another, for the same cause.

In her article “My Introduction to Self-Reliance” from Mother Earth News (Aug/Sep 2009) Treska Lydia Stein, a home-schooled thirteen year old from New Mexico, proclaims that, “I’m learning to live off the land and create my first business”. Treska’s passion for farming kindled in the summer of 2008 when she worked for a local market farmer who patiently taught her and took her to visit other local farms; with inspiration and knowledge she started her own garden with great success and plans to start marketing seedlings in the spring of 2010. The purpose of Treska’s article is to emphasize her willingness to learn, discover and put into action what she believes in. At thirteen years old, Treska is not only inspiring other youth that have a desire to tend the land but her enthusiasm also tugs at anyone who has ever thought of expanding their own gardening into a market.

Tie in paragraph

In her article “Everything He Wants to do is Illegal!” from Mother Earth News (Aug/Sep 2009) Megan Phelps interviews farmer/author Joel Salatin who explains that his farming techniques produce livestock superior to government standards but his marketing is still held back by ignorance and regulations. Interviewing Salatin, Phelps, questions the farmer on issues such as, when, why, how and the challenges he faces with farming today. Phelps uses the interview to expose some of the barriers that farmers’ like Salatin face as well as provide the knowledge that just because a farmer, company or manufacturer follows a set of government guidelines the consumer is not necessarily getting the safest, healthiest or best quality product for their money. Phelps, through the words of Salatin, is seeking to reach out to those interested in personal freedoms, readers who are looking for a different approach to raising livestock and to those who are not satisfied with the idea that the government, on any level, knows what’s best for the consumer.

Tie in paragraph

In her article “Support the Farm Stand to Feed “Locavores” and the Economy” from Public Management (March 2009) Nadejda Mishkovsky discusses that local farmers’ markets are good for local business as well as for the consumer. She touches on the topics of market planning, site selection, market examples and the value a farmers’ market adds to the community. Mishkovsky uses examples of active farmers’ markets around the country to relay the idea that a market is good for the consumer, fresh produce is not always available and governments are working with markets to allow those using assistance to purchase goods, and is good for local businesses, the market brings consumer traffic into the area. Mishkovsky is using the article to inform those in, or interested in, public management about the basics and value of a local community farmers’ market.

Summarize body and support thesis paragraph

Not a Final Draft