Page 63 - ABCTE Study Guide_Neat

“Rumpelstiltskin” is often interpreted as a story of good triumphing over evil. Though this particular tale
begs some larger questions that we’ll examine when we discuss characterization, in terms of plot,
“Rumpelstiltskin” follows a linear pattern that we’ve mapped out below.

RUMPELSTILTSKIN

We begin with a central conflict, or inciting incident, which in this case is the miller telling the king that his
daughter can spin gold. This lie sets a series of events in motion, the rising action, in which the daughter
is put to the test and Rumpelstiltskin appears on the scene to strike a bargain. One lie leads to more lies:
the daughter must keep up appearances first for survival, then for personal gain (i.e., she’ll become
queen). The stakes become higher when the queen has a child and Rumpelstiltskin returns to collect on
the debt. The queen must figure out how to outsmart Rumpelstiltskin in three days time. The story’s
climax comes with the confrontation of the two characters in which the queen tells him his name. The
resolution is a happy ending. Rumpelstiltskin fails and the child is safe.

Fables, folktales, fairy tales, myths, and legends are short stories generally considered as teaching tales
in the sense they often provide us with a moral or lesson. Many of these tales have been passed down
through an oral tradition of storytelling that has lead to interpretations across cultures. Familiarizing
students with tales and legends from around the world not only provides students with a unique insight to
a variety of cultures but also helps them identify universal themes and recognize the impact of folklore on
our shared history.

You should be familiar with the similarities and differences of these types of stories as outlined in the chart
below.

Term Definition Example

Fable Very short story that tells us a moral Little Engine That
or lesson. Very often has an object or Could
animal (with human characteristics) Aesop’s Fables
as the central character.

Folklore Fictional stories that generally stem Santa Claus