Reflection of traditional European fairy tales in children's stories by Roald Dahl

Abstract

The purpose of the research is to find out how R. Dahl uses traditional European fairy tales in his stories. The authors analyze some children’s tales by the British writer R. Dahl, comparing them with traditional folklore European fairy tales, which enables the authors to estimate the amount of folklore fairy tales’ influence on R. Dahl’s tales for children. The scientific novelty of the research consists in establishing the types of intertextual connection between R. Dahl’s stories for children and traditional folklore fairy tales. As a result, it was discovered that traditional European fairy tales are reflected in R. Dahl’s children’s stories due to applying the following techniques: a) using elements of intertextuality in plot construction and image creation, which manifests itself in processing of plots, direct and indirect allusions, parody; b) using the same thematic basis, including the following moralistic themes: confrontation between good and evil; main character’s liberation; paradoxical retribution and triumph of justice.