Animal Transformations
A great deal of fairy tales involve animal transformations. Princes come disguised as bears, beasts, and frogs, while princesses and maidens become swans and turtle-doves.
Transforming into an animal can be a punishment, just or unjust, or a chance for a foolish or vain person to learn humanity. The successful lesson is rewarded with a return to human form. And that's hardly touching on Native American stories, or tales where Shamanism plays a role -- tales where transforming into an animal can be a token of power or simply a means available to the protagonist.
What is your favorite transformation story?
What does the transformation mean to you in the story? What makes it meaningful/symbolic?
Transforming into an animal can be a punishment, just or unjust, or a chance for a foolish or vain person to learn humanity. The successful lesson is rewarded with a return to human form. And that's hardly touching on Native American stories, or tales where Shamanism plays a role -- tales where transforming into an animal can be a token of power or simply a means available to the protagonist.
What is your favorite transformation story?
What does the transformation mean to you in the story? What makes it meaningful/symbolic?