We use the term ‘fairy tale’ to suggest a simple, fanciful or romantic story and most often associate the famous tales of Cinderella or Red Riding Hood with charming children’s stories. However, many of the tales have a long history and some darker origins. This course examines the history of the fairy tale, from their beginnings in various oral traditions, through the collections of Perrault and the Brothers Grimm, to the modern period. We will study specific tales and investigate the role of the fairy tale in Victorian and fin-de-siecle culture, with reference to the modern fairy tales of Han Christian Andersen and Oscar Wilde.