AN INTERCULTURAL STUDY OF CHILDREN EDUCATION THROUGH FAIRY TALES BY WESTERN AND VIETNAMESE PEOPLE =

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study aims to figure out the similarities and differences of Western and Vietnamese fairy tales in children education. Also, the writer hopes to give some recommendations for the causes of such differences, which present the cultural identities of Western and Vietnamese people. To fulfill the aims of the study, the writer pay attention to the main characters with their virtues and their behaviors as well as the ending of both the good and evil. Regarding data collection, the writer employs qualitative approach in 15 Western fairy tales (with the ratio 5:5:5 for German, Danish and Italian each) and 10 Vietnamese fairy tales with 7 presumed sub-questions on the contents of each fairy tale. After finishing the study, the writer found a number of common and different points that are related to the expected virtues for the good, the relationship between the good and evil and lastly, the reaction of the good against the evil. To explain for the differences, the writer considered four factors that has influence on the two cultures, from family, geography, history to religion. To be more specific, the writer used the reason of history and geography for the first difference, family for the second and religion for the third one.