Fascinating, Kevin. How prescient that these scholars saw the need for fairy tales as lessons, or learning tools, or salves for fears. Much like “Ring around the Rosie” makes no sense until you know it relates to the Plague. Or “Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary” may be about Queen Mary I and her cruelty and failure to bear children.

My own interests lie with Finland’s “Kalevala”, since I’m half Finnish and love folklore and fairy tales. It relates to paganism and ends with something like Christianity coming along to enlighten the masses. The uniqueness of the Kalevala lies in it’s drumming, thrumming language, written to be accompanied by the Kantele and recited by rune-singers long before it was translated into writing.

It’s said that Longfellow read parts of the Kalevala and used that same cadence in “The Song of Hiawatha”. Literature is rich with inspiration.

Anyway, now that I’ve found you I look forward to reading more of your writing. Thank you for your efforts.