Fairy Tales Dog and Sparrow

Question: Discuss about the Fairy Tales for Dog and Sparrow. Answer: Introduction: A very popular story by Brother Grimm, The Dog and the Sparrow, narrates a tale of sparrow which seeks vengeance against the man driving a carriage, for having caused the death of his friend, a dog. A major part of the story enumerates how the sparrow ruins the wealth of the carriage man, and schemes to bring about his death as well. However, though a fairy tale story meant for amusing children, the story intends to offer a strong moral as well. The thesis statement of the essay is that the story despite being a fairytale, is trying to teach us an important moral- the relation between the animals are much more stronger than the relation that exists amongst the humans, or the relation of the humans with the animals. Written in the mid 1800, The Dog and the Sparrow, is a simple, short story, that was being written as a warning story by Brother Grimm so that he could educate the public about the importance of doing the right thing. It is through the simple story, the author does try to warn and alert his readers about the importance of staying in limits, and being merciful to other people. The sparrow did not know the dog, and yet the sparrow not only offered him nourishment but also avenged his death. On the other hand, the man on the carriage could have been careful towards the dog, and it is only when he showed indifference to the life of a fellow creature, did he end up sealing his fate forever. The story clearly shows that although men are deemed as highly evolved creatures than the animals, they are devoid of any feeling of empathy or gratitude, while the animals know how to stay loyal and grateful to their friends. While the dog offers his company to the bird while they were travelling to t he city, the bird provided him food and nourishment to show his gratitude. However, the man on the carter, despite being cautioned by the sparrow, rode his carriage indifferently, bringing in the death of the dog. The language of the story is very simple and easily comprehensible, so that any novice can understand the content. One can find a continuous pattern of thoughts in the story that keeps the reader engaged. The writer, for instance, employs the repetitive use of phrases such as What an unlucky wretch I am to be uttered by the carter, to which the sparrow would respond Not wretch enough yet. With every misfortune that the sparrow was bringing in for the carter, the readers were apprehending that something more precarious is waiting for him. This helps in keeping the readers actively engaged in the story. The tone and style of the story is like any other fairytale story, characterized by the use of simple words and a lucid style. However, there is a didactic note in the story that cannot be overlooked. Keeping aside the surface meaning, if one intends to interpret the theme of the story, one will be able to understand that The Dog and the Sparrow is an archetypical story of love and revenge. The story shows that it is important to treat each one with equal respect and dignity, and one should not belittle the power of someone (Michaelis). For example, sparrow is merely a lowly creature, while a dog is known for ferocity and strength. However, in the story the author shows how a tiny creature like sparrow can also rise to the occasion and scheme and plot the death and destruction of an evil person. This is the reason why the story is still relevant in todays world, as it educates the public about the importance of beng good to each one surrounding us. Symbolically speaking, the tiny sparrow can be interpreted as the Divine power as well, which is known for its benevolence as well as ravaging power. The sparrow in itself was a munificent creature providing love and compassion to the d og, and it brings good luck and happiness to a deserted dog. On the other hand, it also stands for justice, just like the Divine power. Thus, when the carter kills the dog, the sparrow follows him until his death. For the carter, he symbolizes bad luck. Just like the God, he acts as a Guardian Angel to the Good ones, while it acts as a Punitive Angel to the carter who deserves bad luck and mishaps in his life (Blamires). To conclude, it should be noted that the story is a part of a fairy tale, and thus it enumerates a tale in simple language. However, it also exhorts the reader to follow the right path, stay merciful towards other creatures. It teaches the importance of caring for everyone, ad even a tiny sparrow can also ruin the life of a person. Reference List: Blamires, David. "Grimms' Fairy Tales in English: A Forgotten Edition."Bulletin of the John Rylands Library89.2 (2013): 5-13. MICHAELIS-VULTORIUS, A. L. E. X. A. N. D. R. A. "The Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm in Colombia."Grimms' Tales around the Globe: The Dynamics of Their International Reception(2014): 81.