起源

童話(hua)(hua)故(gu)事(shi)最初是傳(chuan)統口(kou)述民間故(gu)事(shi)的(de)一部分，通(tong)常會被講述的(de)具戲劇性并(bing)以口(kou)耳相傳(chuan)的(de)方式世代相傳(chuan)。因此(ci)，童話(hua)(hua)的(de)歷史難以考證。尤其是早期不識字(zi)的(de)說書(shu)人所說的(de)故(gu)事(shi)，通(tong)常都沒(mei)有任何書(shu)面(mian)紀錄可供后世參(can)考。

最早有以(yi)文字形式流(liu)傳(chuan)的(de)童(tong)(tong)(tong)話(hua)故(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)事(shi)(shi)是(shi)(shi)在(zai)公元(yuan)前1,300年的(de)古埃及(ji)，自此之(zhi)后童(tong)(tong)(tong)話(hua)故(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)事(shi)(shi)開始在(zai)寫(xie)作(zuo)形式的(de)文學作(zuo)品中出現(xian)，諸如公元(yuan)100至200年間(jian)阿普列烏斯(Apuleius)所(suo)著(zhu)《金(jin)驢記(ji)》(The Golden Ass)出現(xian)的(de)愛神與美女(Cupid and Psyche)或是(shi)(shi)公元(yuan)200至300年間(jian)印度的(de)《五卷書》，但(dan)由故(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)事(shi)(shi)本身(shen)無法得知這(zhe)些故(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)事(shi)(shi)是(shi)(shi)不是(shi)(shi)反應當時當地社會所(suo)流(liu)傳(chuan)的(de)民間(jian)故(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)事(shi)(shi)。許(xu)(xu)多證(zheng)據顯示許(xu)(xu)多之(zhi)后童(tong)(tong)(tong)話(hua)故(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)事(shi)(shi)集里的(de)故(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)事(shi)(shi)都(dou)是(shi)(shi)根據民間(jian)故(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)事(shi)(shi)重(zhong)新編寫(xie)而成的(de)。這(zhe)些故(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)事(shi)(shi)合集通(tong)常(chang)根據更古老的(de)民間(jian)故(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)事(shi)(shi)而來(lai)，像是(shi)(shi)《一(yi)千(qian)零一(yi)夜》、《吸血(xue)鬼的(de)故(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)事(shi)(shi)》(Vikram and the Vampire)及(ji)《彼勒與大龍》(Bel and the Dragon)。除了這(zhe)些合集之(zhi)外(wai)，中國的(de)道家哲(zhe)(zhe)學家，像是(shi)(shi)《列子(zi)》與《莊子(zi)》，也都(dou)將一(yi)些童(tong)(tong)(tong)話(hua)故(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)事(shi)(shi)以(yi)他們的(de)表現(xian)方(fang)式出現(xian)在(zai)他們的(de)哲(zhe)(zhe)學思想中。而在(zai)較廣泛(fan)的(de)定義(yi)中，《伊索寓言》(公元(yuan)前六世紀)是(shi)(shi)西方(fang)世界第一(yi)本著(zhu)名的(de)童(tong)(tong)(tong)話(hua)集。

典故

典(dian)故(gu)(gu)(gu)的(de)引用(yong)大(da)(da)(da)量出現在(zai)(zai)杰弗瑞(rui)・喬叟的(de)《坎(kan)特伯里故(gu)(gu)(gu)事(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)集(ji)》、斯賓(bin)塞的(de)《仙(xian)后》以(yi)及(ji)莎(sha)士比(bi)亞(ya)的(de)舞臺劇(ju)之中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。《李(li)爾(er)王(wang)》的(de)故(gu)(gu)(gu)事(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)被認為引用(yong)了大(da)(da)(da)量的(de)童(tong)(tong)話典(dian)故(gu)(gu)(gu)。在(zai)(zai)十(shi)六及(ji)十(shi)七世(shi)紀期間(jian)，意(yi)大(da)(da)(da)利(li)(li)的(de)Giovanni Francesco Straparola在(zai)(zai)《愉快的(de)夜晚》(The Facetious Nights of Straparola)一書(shu)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)重新(xin)詮(quan)釋(shi)了西方文(wen)學中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)的(de)故(gu)(gu)(gu)事(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)，書(shu)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)的(de)故(gu)(gu)(gu)事(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)包含了大(da)(da)(da)量的(de)童(tong)(tong)話故(gu)(gu)(gu)事(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)，而巴吉(ji)(ji)雷(Giambattista Basile)的(de)《那不勒斯人(ren)故(gu)(gu)(gu)事(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)》(Naples)則全部(bu)都是(shi)童(tong)(tong)話。卡洛・戈齊(qi)在(zai)(zai)他(ta)的(de)意(yi)大(da)(da)(da)利(li)(li)歌劇(ju)場景(jing)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)用(yong)了許多童(tong)(tong)話故(gu)(gu)(gu)事(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)的(de)典(dian)故(gu)(gu)(gu)，例(li)如他(ta)的(de)歌劇(ju)其中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)有一幕(mu)取自于意(yi)大(da)(da)(da)利(li)(li)童(tong)(tong)話的(de)《橘之戀(The Love For Three Oranges)》。與此(ci)同時，中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)國的(de)蒲松齡在(zai)(zai)1766年他(ta)所出版(ban)的(de)《聊齋志(zhi)異(yi)》中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)也收集(ji)了許多童(tong)(tong)話故(gu)(gu)(gu)事(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)。而童(tong)(tong)話故(gu)(gu)(gu)事(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)本身在(zai)(zai)十(shi)七世(shi)紀末葉(xie)的(de)法國上等階層中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)開始逐漸風行，寓言詩人(ren)拉封丹和(he)另一位知名(ming)作家查爾(er)斯・佩羅(luo)(睡美(mei)人(ren)及(ji)灰姑娘的(de)作者)兩人(ren)所編纂的(de)童(tong)(tong)話故(gu)(gu)(gu)事(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)是(shi)其中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)受(shou)歡(huan)迎的(de)代表。雖然特拉帕羅(luo)拉(著有《穿靴子(zi)的(de)貓(mao)》(Puss in Boots))、查爾(er)斯・佩羅(luo)和(he)巴吉(ji)(ji)雷的(de)童(tong)(tong)話集(ji)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)包含了許多童(tong)(tong)話故(gu)(gu)(gu)事(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)最早的(de)形式，但這些編者也重新(xin)詮(quan)釋(shi)這些故(gu)(gu)(gu)事(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)以(yi)符合文(wen)學的(de)效果。

而且首先嘗試(shi)不僅僅是(shi)保(bao)存(cun)童(tong)話(hua)故(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)事(shi)(shi)中的(de)(de)角色個(ge)性也(ye)同時保(bao)留故(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)事(shi)(shi)風格的(de)(de)，是(shi)德國的(de)(de)格林兄弟。但諷刺的(de)(de)是(shi)，雖然格林童(tong)話(hua)第(di)一(yi)版(ban)(1812年到1815年)是(shi)民(min)(min)俗研究學者(zhe)的(de)(de)寶庫，但為了保(bao)證銷(xiao)售量及受歡迎的(de)(de)程度(du)，格林兄弟在(zai)后來出版(ban)的(de)(de)版(ban)本中也(ye)開(kai)始改寫書中的(de)(de)故(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)事(shi)(shi)。格林童(tong)話(hua)集(ji)的(de)(de)轉變不只(zhi)將(jiang)內容(rong)偏離原有的(de)(de)民(min)(min)間故(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)事(shi)(shi)，也(ye)影響(xiang)了原有的(de)(de)民(min)(min)間故(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)事(shi)(shi)的(de)(de)面貌(mao)。除此之外，格林兄弟也(ye)沒有收錄一(yi)些德國口耳相傳(chuan)的(de)(de)民(min)(min)間故(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)事(shi)(shi)，其理由是(shi)他們認為這(zhe)些也(ye)曾在(zai)查爾(er)斯・佩羅的(de)(de)故(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)事(shi)(shi)集(ji)出現過的(de)(de)故(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)事(shi)(shi)是(shi)法國故(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)事(shi)(shi)而非德國故(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)事(shi)(shi)。安徒生的(de)(de)童(tong)話(hua)最著(zhu)名。

最初故事

最初童話故事的聽眾除(chu)兒童之(zhi)外也包括成人但19世紀及(ji)20世紀之(zhi)后，童話故事開始漸(jian)漸(jian)轉變成兒童文學的一部(bu)份。

包括奧(ao)諾伊(yi)夫人在內的(de)法國作(zuo)(zuo)家(jia)群précieuses嘗試著將他(ta)們(men)為(wei)(wei)成人所(suo)寫(xie)(xie)的(de)作(zuo)(zuo)品推廣到兒童(tong)讀者群中(zhong)。當時(shi)的(de)一(yi)位女伯爵(jue)也(ye)宣(xuan)稱(cheng)她若是仍在孩童(tong)時(shi)代也(ye)會喜歡(huan)讀童(tong)話(hua)故事(shi)。而(er)(er)后(hou)期(qi)的(de)précieuses女作(zuo)(zuo)家(jia)，Jeanne-Marie Le Prince de Beaumont為(wei)(wei)兒童(tong)讀者重(zhong)新編(bian)寫(xie)(xie)美女與野(ye)獸，她的(de)版(ban)本(ben)(ben)也(ye)是今日所(suo)流傳的(de)版(ban)本(ben)(ben)。而(er)(er)格林兄弟在他(ta)們(men)的(de)《兒童(tong)與家(jia)庭童(tong)話(hua)集》中(zhong)出版(ban)后(hou)，也(ye)為(wei)(wei)因應讀者的(de)抱(bao)怨而(er)(er)將他(ta)們(men)的(de)故事(shi)重(zhong)新改寫(xie)(xie)為(wei)(wei)較為(wei)(wei)適合兒童(tong)所(suo)閱讀的(de)版(ban)本(ben)(ben)。

現代故事

在(zai)現(xian)代，童(tong)話故(gu)(gu)事(shi)已轉(zhuan)形成為(wei)適(shi)合(he)對兒(er)(er)童(tong)說(shuo)的(de)(de)(de)(de)版(ban)(ban)本。為(wei)了讓童(tong)話故(gu)(gu)事(shi)更適(shi)合(he)兒(er)(er)童(tong)閱讀，格林兄弟(di)也致力(li)在(zai)減少故(gu)(gu)事(shi)中對性的(de)(de)(de)(de)描述，在(zai)第一(yi)版(ban)(ban)格林童(tong)話中，長發姑(gu)娘(niang)(niang)在(zai)幾次王(wang)子(zi)的(de)(de)(de)(de)深夜造訪(fang)后開(kai)始問(wen)巫婆為(wei)何衣服越來越緊(jin)因此(ci)巫婆知(zhi)道長發姑(gu)娘(niang)(niang)已經懷(huai)孕，但在(zai)接下來的(de)(de)(de)(de)版(ban)(ban)本中，則修訂為(wei)較(jiao)容易拉上王(wang)子(zi)而(er)較(jiao)難拉上巫婆。然而(er)后續(xu)的(de)(de)(de)(de)版(ban)(ban)本在(zai)暴(bao)力(li)方面(像是對壞人的(de)(de)(de)(de)懲(cheng)罰)反而(er)是增加了。但托爾金也發現(xian)，為(wei)更適(shi)合(he)兒(er)(er)童(tong)閱讀，杜松樹(The Juniper Tree)故(gu)(gu)事(shi)中的(de)(de)(de)(de)食人者的(de)(de)(de)(de)烤(kao)肉串曾在(zai)其中一(yi)個版(ban)(ban)本中被剔除。而(er)在(zai)維多(duo)利亞時代，由于時代背景之故(gu)(gu)，故(gu)(gu)事(shi)往往會被改寫的(de)(de)(de)(de)帶(dai)有教化意味。例(li)如狄更斯就曾對灰姑(gu)娘(niang)(niang)故(gu)(gu)事(shi)中所出現(xian)的(de)(de)(de)(de)禁(jin)酒令表示抗議。

為兒童(tong)(tong)(tong)而制作的(de)(de)童(tong)(tong)(tong)話改編(bian)在二(er)十(shi)世(shi)紀之(zhi)后依舊持續的(de)(de)進(jin)行著。迪士(shi)尼的(de)(de)白雪公主就是(shi)(shi)以兒童(tong)(tong)(tong)為主要制作對(dui)象。而日本動畫(hua)《魔(mo)法小(xiao)公主》也(ye)是(shi)(shi)改編(bian)自(zi)童(tong)(tong)(tong)話故事(shi)。