What makes a good fairy tale?
I must admit I am skeptical of most modern renditions. Aren’t we all lovers of the fantastic Grimm and Anderson tales of our childhood? As I grew older, I loved discovering different folk stories and contrasting variations of my favorite stories. In my studies, I became enamored with ancient myths of the Greeks and Norse, and analyzing their development in the works of Roman poets.
But newer material? As I’ve previewed the vast quantity of fairy-tale themed films aimed at my children, I’ve been reminded of how difficult it is to write an original, or even engaging, story. For sure, there are some truly enjoyable ones out there and my children adore the silly bed-time tales I’ve crafted for them, but I’ve borrowed prolifically from the classics and our crazy family life.
Apart from the creations of Tolkien and MacDonald, I’ve discovered no noteworthy nineteenth or twentieth century contributors to the fairy tale genre. Then, this past Christmas, I had a delightful surprise in reading Howard Pyle’s The Garden Behind the Moon. I was already a devotee of his historical fiction for young people. Indeed, I even had his fairy tale collection The Wonder Clock on my bookshelf, but had yet to peruse it. This short, beautiful story of the world of the moon even exceeded my hopeful expectations.
This fairy tale explores a world beyond our own, reached by the pathways of moonbeams lighting upon the sea. A young boy, David discovers how to traverse their shimmering trail to reach the moon, where he visits with the man therein, learns how to polish stars, and discovers that the moon-house is really just the gateway to an amazing garden-world beyond. He is a boy set apart by his wonder-filled mind and spiritual qualities; as the story progresses, his persistent faith in seeming fantasies allows him this experience of how the real world transcends this temporal sphere. His vision, which brings him ridicule, enables him to light up the night sky for the very friends and family who mock him.
At the heart of the tale is the Moon-Angel, a beautiful and yet wistful figure who visits the earth to gently escort the dying to their new home and makes all the old things new again with his song.
He appears both mythological and Christ-like, and he is not the only character used as both a pagan and Christian archetype.
The story of Pandora’s box is re-told, nestled in a representation of Adam and Eve. David himself reminds us both of the Greek hero in quest of glory, as well as the biblical David as he slays his own Goliath. A twist on the story of Bellerophon and Andromeda also appears as a Pegasus-like steed soars in climax of the tale, and a lovely old grandmother hanging clean wash on the line personifies kindness while directly referencing the cleansing of a purgatorial treatment.
These allusions give credit to the ancient stories while yet possessing a newness in their depth and added layers. David’s flight along the moonlit path is so much pleasanter and exciting than a ferry-ride across the Styx; the garden of Eden appears more mystical when seen in the moon’s softly-lit realm. Pyle is able to undergird these famous myths with Christian symbolism, while using lighter, nursery rhyme characters such as the man-in-the-moon to create a charming new fairy tale. His success makes his deep questions and speculative answers approachable to even children; while they delight in the magical adventures of David and his friend Phyllis, they’ll also be wrapped up in Pyle’s vision of a world made new by sacrifice and joy. Hard experiences such as an untimely death and what it means to grow up are grappled with, albeit gently.
Most strikingly, the vocation to love is presented as the key to wisdom and happiness.
By literally passing through the Moon-angel to undergo his own passion, David discovers how to bring the transforming effects of paradise restored to those he loves at home.
It is amazing to see Pyle borrow from traditions and still create a fairy tale that is not only profound, but also, paradoxically, original. In this, he has earned a treasured spot on my shelf and – I hope! – in the hearts of my children. The best fairy tales are those rich in both meaning and fantasy, so that children can venture into their landscapes in their minds and adults can encounter them in their souls. Boys and girls dream that fairy tales can come true; we parents know that they have.
