The Perilous Realm: Moral Components in Fairy Tales

Fairy stories are not just about goblins, wicked stepparents, and wayward children. They are tools for passing life experience from one generation to another. From Grimms’ Fairy Tales to the novels of George MacDonald, C.S. Lewis, and J.R.R. Tolkien, fantasy literature influences us in subtle and surprising ways. Join author Daniel Schwabauer for a look at how fairy tales continue to shape our culture—for better and for worse. You will gain a deeper appreciation for fantasy and learn to recognize the power of its narrative principles in your own life.

About the presenter: Daniel Schwabauer, M.A., has taught creative writing to thousands of students. His professional work includes stage plays, radio scripts, short stories, newspaper columns, comic books and scripting for the PBS animated series Auto-B-Good. His middle-grade novels, Runt the Brave, Runt the Hunted, and The Curse of the Seer have received numerous awards, including the 2005 Ben Franklin Award for Best New Voice in Children’s Literature and the 2008 Eric Hoffer Award. He and his family make their home in Olathe, Kansas.