Kendra Smith
09/18/2011
English 102
Laura Cline
Poetry Analysis
“Fairy-tales are full of impossible tasks” (Stallings 2). The poem “Fairy-tale Logic” written by A.E Stallings is following the theme of monstrosity. The theme of monstrosity appears to be dark and mischievous. We have all grown up with fairy tale books and movies, with characters such as goblins, princes, and mutating toads, is there any truth to these tales? Fairy tales are used to bring hope and imagination to our youth, but they can also influence people to fulfill the human desire to do whatever it takes to make their dreams happen.
The poem “Fairy-tale Logic” is a poem revealing the true tragedy of the fairy tales that we have all grown up with. Stallings uses imagery as well as scenarios from each of the stories that we have all read “The language of snakes, perhaps, an invisible cloak” (Stallings 11) is from Harry potter, a perfect example. Stallings seems to believe that fairy tales influence people to go to extraordinary lengths to accomplish anything. Whether the thing that a person desires is winning a prince, seeking revenge, or fighting off an a person or creature whom belongs with the darks side, Stallings is using examples to demonstrate that the characters in these novels do tremendous things to reach their goal. The desire to succeed is what makes people do extreme things like “Marry a monster. Hand over your firstborn son”. That quote is taken from the tale rumplestiltskin, a tale of a girl who is trapped and in order for the great Rumplestiltskin to grant her wishes and her last hopes she must turn straw into gold, a final price to pay for winning the true love of a great prince, is to hand over her first born son. This is a demonstration of what people will do to achieve what they want at the time.
True love is something that we learn from what we hear or see before we feel. Fairy tales such as Sleeping Beauty makes love seem beautiful and desirable to the point where true love can wake a person up from a deep sleep caused by disease. Stallings on the other hand demonstrates these love tales in a unique way that inspires a reader to read on and second guess these lovey feelings for a moment and realize the fantasy more “Select the prince from a row of identical masks”. The ability to find your prince out of identical looking men is nearly impossible and Stallings uses that as an example.
Fairy tales can also have battle and revenge concepts. People come up with crazy things out of anger, most seem impossible “Tiptoe up to a dragon where it basks/and snatch its bone; count dust specks, mote by mote”. (Stallings 5-6) It seems impossible to go through so much just to win a battle, but A. E Stallings is able to demonstrate this through imagery. The entire poem is filled with imagery “Gather the chin hairs of a man-eating goat, /or cross a sulphuric lake in a leaky boat,” (Stallings 2-3) in that sentence I can completely see the imagery, I see a handsome warrior going through hoops of fire to fight evil and recover his love or reputation. In that moment the impossible seems possible, which is why fairy tales seem to hold so much logic in the moment.
“Fairy-tale Logic” is such an interesting piece of poetry because it keeps you on your toes and really gets you thinking. Stallings seems to have a very interesting and diverse view on this topic and has many different ideas and beliefs about fairy tales. In some lines the author seems to hate them, and in others Stallings seems to accept them and use methods of encouragement “You have to fight magic with magic.” ( Stallings 8) and in others the author doubts them “You have to believe/That you have something impossible up your sleeve”. This poem has kept my mind racing and made me think about my views on love and victory and which side I take on fairy tales through the voice and imagery that this poem has to offer.
Works Cited
Stallings, A.E “Fairy-tale Logic” Poetry Foundation, March 2010
http://www.poetryfoun Kendra Smith
09/18/2011
English 102
Laura Cline
Poetry Analysis
“Fairy-tales are full of impossible tasks” (Stallings 2). The poem “Fairy-tale Logic” written by A.E Stallings is following the theme of monstrosity. The theme of monstrosity appears to be dark and mischievous. We have all grown up with fairy tale books and movies, with characters such as goblins, princes, and mutating toads, is there any truth to these tales? Fairy tales are used to bring hope and imagination to our youth, but they can also influence people to fulfill the human desire to do whatever it takes to make their dreams happen.
The poem “Fairy-tale Logic” is a poem revealing the true tragedy of the fairy tales that we have all grown up with. Stallings uses imagery as well as scenarios from each of the stories that we have all read “The language of snakes, perhaps, an invisible cloak” (Stallings 11) is from Harry potter, a perfect example. Stallings seems to believe that fairy tales influence people to go to extraordinary lengths to accomplish anything. Whether the thing that a person desires is winning a prince, seeking revenge, or fighting off an a person or creature whom belongs with the darks side, Stallings is using examples to demonstrate that the characters in these novels do tremendous things to reach their goal. The desire to succeed is what makes people do extreme things like “Marry a monster. Hand over your firstborn son”. That quote is taken from the tale rumplestiltskin, a tale of a girl who is trapped and in order for the great Rumplestiltskin to grant her wishes and her last hopes she must turn straw into gold, a final price to pay for winning the true love of a great prince, is to hand over her first born son. This is a demonstration of what people will do to achieve what they want at the time.
True love is something that we learn from what we hear or see before we feel. Fairy tales such as Sleeping Beauty makes love seem beautiful and desirable to the point where true love can wake a person up from a deep sleep caused by disease. Stallings on the other hand demonstrates these love tales in a unique way that inspires a reader to read on and second guess these lovey feelings for a moment and realize the fantasy more “Select the prince from a row of identical masks”. The ability to find your prince out of identical looking men is nearly impossible and Stallings uses that as an example.
Fairy tales can also have battle and revenge concepts. People come up with crazy things out of anger, most seem impossible “Tiptoe up to a dragon where it basks/and snatch its bone; count dust specks, mote by mote”. (Stallings 5-6) It seems impossible to go through so much just to win a battle, but A. E Stallings is able to demonstrate this through imagery. The entire poem is filled with imagery “Gather the chin hairs of a man-eating goat, /or cross a sulphuric lake in a leaky boat,” (Stallings 2-3) in that sentence I can completely see the imagery, I see a handsome warrior going through hoops of fire to fight evil and recover his love or reputation. In that moment the impossible seems possible, which is why fairy tales seem to hold so much logic in the moment.
“Fairy-tale Logic” is such an interesting piece of poetry because it keeps you on your toes and really gets you thinking. Stallings seems to have a very interesting and diverse view on this topic and has many different ideas and beliefs about fairy tales. In some lines the author seems to hate them, and in others Stallings seems to accept them and use methods of encouragement “You have to fight magic with magic.” ( Stallings 8) and in others the author doubts them “You have to believe/That you have something impossible up your sleeve”. This poem has kept my mind racing and made me think about my views on love and victory and which side I take on fairy tales through the voice and imagery that this poem has to offer.
Works Cited
Stallings, A.E “Fairy-tale Logic” Poetry Foundation, March 2010
http://www.poetryfoun
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