What makes the forest so attractive as a setting for fiction?
In the Grimm fairy tale ``Hansel and Gretel,'' we find a witch's house in the forest, and in the ``Harry Potter'' series, a dangerous area called the ``Forbidden Forest'' appears repeatedly in important scenes. Regardless of the era, there are many attractive settings for people. Terry Parlato, an English teacher and author, talks about the charm of the forest setting.
What Makes a Forest Such a Seductive Setting for Fiction? ‹ CrimeReads
``Hansel and Gretel'' is a story about a brother and sister from a poor family who were abandoned in the forest to save money. They discover a house of sweets in the depths of the forest, are invited by a witch, and are imprisoned. Here, the forest is a ``labyrinth where you don't know how to get back home'' and functions as an ``unknown and uneasy place'' where an evil witch hides in the depths.
On the other hand, at home they were unable to resist their cruel parents and were abandoned in the forest, but in the forest they developed a courageous sense of adventure and devised their own strategy to fight back against the evil witch. Furthermore, after defeating the witch at the end of the story, Hansel and Gretel are able to live a wealthy life by taking back the treasure that was in the witch's house. In addition, it is sometimes depicted as a special space isolated from the outside world, such as a place where people who have been chased from the town can hide and live, or where they can find the beautiful flowers they were looking for. According to Parlato, this dichotomy between ``a dark and scary place'' and ``a wild and free place'' is what makes the forest such an attractive space.
The forest is a place where nature reigns supreme, where human laws disappear and human behavior is shielded from society's eyes. They can be used to freely engage in activities that are prohibited in the town, or are used as a place to commit adultery hidden from people's eyes. Additionally, the nature of hiding from the public eye makes the forest the perfect place for people with bad intentions, making it the perfect setting for fairy tales, thrillers, mysteries, and other novels.
As an example of the fascinating duality of the forest, Parlato quotes Robert Frost, a poet who was active in the early 20th century, from his famous poem `` Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening. '' Masu.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
According to Parlato's interpretation, ``Stopping by the Forest on a Snowy Evening'' praises the sublime beauty of snow falling in the forest, while also talking about the fear of the forest. Mr. Parlato points out that a person who leaves the forest in search of a place to go despite being drawn by the beautiful scenery is oscillating between the natural world and the human world, and at the same time is oscillating between the choice of life or death. .
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