Darnton

I found the Darnton article to be the more enlightening of the two. The Bettelheim article seems to suppose a lot. To me, it feels like he is almost suggesting that without fairy tales, a child would learn nothing from his parents. It sounds like there is some natural desire and need for these stories, which just rubs me wrong. He also makes it sound as though the stories are absolutely crucial in the development of children.
When I was a kid, my book of fairy tales was a slightly demented one called The Stinky Cheese Man, which was a collection of the classic fairy tales, but filtered through what could be best described as a Ren & Stimpy mentality. However, I've grown up and turned out quite normal.
The Darnton article focuses more on oral tradition and history, which to me is more accurate. These stories are not static, but instead change as the storytellers see fit. There is nothing absolute in these, and they act more as a cultural barometer than a secondary Bible.

Sorry for the late post. I thought the assignments were going to be announced in class! My mistake.