Why are all fairy tales start with once?

Why are all fairy tales start with once?

By Dr. Kyle Muller

This is a question & answer written by the 3rd A1 class of the Ipssar Pellegrino Artusi of Recoaro Terme for Evidence Network Academy.

Fairy tales traditionally begin with “Once upon a time” to create an atmosphere of magic and place them in a distant time, not well defined. This formula introduces a fantastic world, far from daily reality, where extraordinary events can happen. Once upon a time “the” was also suggests that history has roots in the past, in an indefinite, often “timeless” time, which allows the imagination to develop without bonds with the present. In this way, the listener or the reader is invited to enter a symbolic and mysterious universe, where the laws of logic and reality can be suspended. In addition, this expression has become a distinctive brand of the fairytale genre, recognizable and reassuring.

Class 3A1: Berlato Elena, Bonaldo Giulia, Castagna Giada, Grandis Sara, Meggiolaro Marika, Pegoraro Emanuele, Rela Chiara.

Kyle Muller
About the author
Dr. Kyle Muller
Dr. Kyle Mueller is a Research Analyst at the Harris County Juvenile Probation Department in Houston, Texas. He earned his Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from Texas State University in 2019, where his dissertation was supervised by Dr. Scott Bowman. Dr. Mueller's research focuses on juvenile justice policies and evidence-based interventions aimed at reducing recidivism among youth offenders. His work has been instrumental in shaping data-driven strategies within the juvenile justice system, emphasizing rehabilitation and community engagement.
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