Jung 106: Jung and Fairy Tales

This course explores the Jungian interpretation of fairy tales as one of the clearest ways to study archetypes, complexes, shadow, anima and animus, individuation, and the deep symbolic structures of the psyche.

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Explore Fairy Tales as a Living Language of the Psyche

Fairy tales are not simply children’s stories, moral lessons, or literary curiosities

Fairy tales are symbolic expressions of the deep structures of the psyche. In this self-paced course, we explore the Jungian understanding of fairy and folk tales as compact, symbolically rich narratives that reveal archetypal patterns, psychic conflict, transformation, and the individuation process. Following the work of C. G. Jung, Marie-Louise von Franz, and later Jungian interpreters, we will examine how fairy tales help us understand dreams, complexes, shadow material, anima and animus figures, and the recurring patterns that shape human psychological life.

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Discover the Comparative Anatomy of the Psyche

Jung and von Franz recognized that fairy tales often reveal archetypal patterns with unusual clarity.

Marie-Louise von Franz described fairy tales as among the clearest expressions of collective unconscious processes, because they contain less cultural and religious elaboration than many myths, legends, and sacred stories. The course notes also cite Jung’s view that fairy tales allow us to study the “comparative anatomy of the psyche.” In this course, students will explore why fairy tales have been so important for Jungian psychology. We will look at mainstream fairy-tale scholarship, the work of Marie-Louise von Franz, individuation in fairy tales, redemption motifs, shadow and evil, anima and animus, other Jungian interpreters of fairy tales, and the relationship between fairy tales, myth, and what Jung called the “2,000,000-year-old Self.” Students will also learn how fairy tales can be used in symbolic amplification. By comparing dream images, active imagination material, and emotionally charged symbols with similar patterns in fairy tales, we can begin to understand how the unconscious communicates through image, story, conflict, repetition, and transformation.

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Discover the Comparative Anatomy of the Psyche

Who This Course Is For

This course is well suited for therapists, counselors, educators, clergy, spiritual directors, artists, writers, storytellers, and serious lay students interested in Jungian psychology, fairy tales, folklore, dreams, symbolic interpretation, and the unconscious.

Students who have completed or begun the Certificate in Foundational Depth Psychology will be especially well prepared. However, completion of the first certificate is not required. Students who already have a working knowledge of Jungian concepts, dreams, symbolic interpretation, and active imagination may also be ready to begin here.

This course is especially appropriate for students who want to deepen their understanding of:

Fairy tales and archetype
The collective unconscious
Marie-Louise von Franz’s approach to fairy tales
Jung’s theory of individuation
Shadow, evil, anima, and animus in symbolic narratives
Redemption motifs and psychological transformation
Dream amplification and symbolic interpretation
The relationship between fairy tales, myth, and the ancient layers of the psyche

What You Will Study

In this course, we explore:

Mainstream approaches to fairy tales and folklore
The difference between academic and Jungian approaches to fairy-tale interpretation
Marie-Louise von Franz and the Jungian study of fairy tales
Fairy tales as expressions of the collective unconscious
Individuation as it appears in fairy-tale narratives
Redemption motifs, enchantment, curses, and transformation
Shadow and evil in fairy tales
Anima and animus figures in fairy-tale symbolism
Other Jungian interpreters, including Robert Johnson, Marion Woodman, Donald Kalsched, Robert Bly, and others
The relationship between fairy tales, mythology, and the “2,000,000-year-old Self”

The goal is not simply to learn about fairy tales as literature or folklore. The deeper aim is to understand how fairy tales illuminate the psyche, enrich symbolic interpretation, and help us recognize recurring patterns of psychological conflict, healing, and transformation.

Your instructor

Senior Instructor

James R. Newell, Ph.D.

James Newell is an educator, counselor, personal coach, professional musician, and the director of the Depth Psychology Alliance. James earned his master’s degree in Pastoral Counseling and Theology from Vanderbilt University Divinity School, with a focus on Jungian psychology. He earned his doctorate in History of Religions from the Vanderbilt University Graduate School of Religion. James has taught online and face to face courses for Central Michigan University, Western Kentucky University, Excelsior College, Thomas Edison State University, and other institutions.
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What others are saying...

Dr. James Newell is a gifted teacher

Bonnie Bright, PhD, founder of the Depth Psychology Alliance

Dr. James Newell is a gifted teacher and scholar who has effectively organized an impressive amount of detailed research and information into a series of powerful classes and courses on Jung and Jung’s psychology, now available on Depth Psychology Academy. Students at all levels can gain a depth of understanding about how Jung’s ideas can change our lives and our world as Dr. Newell explains each topic very clearly and at exactly the right pace for students of all levels to take it in.

Dr. James Newell is highly knowledgeable in Jungian Psychology

Monica Flores, Ed.D

Dr. James Newell is highly knowledgeable in Jungian Psychology. I learned so much from him about Jung and Jungian psychology when I began taking courses in depth psychology from the Depth Psychology Alliance online courses. Dr. Newell is open-minded and consistent. He has a smooth voice that can hold anyone’s attention. I enthusiastically recommend taking these courses through the Depth Psychology Academy.

James is a knowledgeable and caring instructor with an engaging teaching style

Ann Amberg, MCS, Transpersonal Leadership Consultant

I highly recommend Dr. James Newell’s courses. Upon completion of my certificate in Depth Psychology I had gained the confidence, focus and knowledge to support my success in my current PhD program in Jungian and Archetypal Studies at Pacifica Graduate Institute. James is a knowledgeable and caring instructor with an engaging teaching style. All of the Depth Psychology Alliance courses I took: Introduction to Jungian Psychology, Active Imagination, Fairy Tales, Dreams, and many more, were phenomenal and I am most grateful for the opportunity to study with James.

The courses I have taken with Dr. Newell have perfectly prepped me for my graduate studies in psychoanalysis

Nirlap Bettenhauser, student

This is an outstanding educational program where one can learn multiple areas of Jungian Psychology. These courses are very well structured with an appropriate course load and high quality texts. Plus the price is incredibly reasonable. The courses I have taken with Dr. Newell have been intellectually engaging and have perfectly prepped me for my graduate studies in psychoanalysis. Not something I expected to receive from the academy, but very grateful I did.

Course Format Note

This course is based on recordings from an earlier live Depth Psychology Academy class. The recordings preserve the full teaching content of the original course, but students may hear occasional references to live discussions, earlier assignment structures, or a previous course platform.

For the current self-paced version, students should follow the materials as they appear on the Academy site. Each module includes the current course materials and quizzes. Completion is based on the current lessons, quizzes, readings or materials, and lesson completion steps inside the course.

Course curriculum

1

Welcome to Jung 106: Jung and Fairy Tales!
2

Module 1: The Mainstream Interpretation of Fairy Tales
- Start Here: About These Recordings and Current Course Requirements
- M1/1: Learning and Assessment Activities
- M1/2: Video Lesson: The Mainstream Approach to Fairy Tales
- M1/3: Video Lesson Quiz
- M1/4: Readings Quiz - (All questions are based on chapters 1 & 2 in the textbook)
- M1/3: List of Additional Resources
- M1/4: Additional, Optional Reading Resource for Study
- M1/5: Additional, Optional Reading Resource for Study
- M1/6: Additional, Optional Video
- M1/7: Additional, Optional Video
- M1/8: Additional, Optional Video
- M1/9: Reviewing Module 1
3

Module 2: Marie Louise von Franz
- M2/1: Learning and Assessment Activities
- M2/2: Video Lesson: Marie Louise von Franz
- M2/3: Video Quiz
- M2/4: Readings Quiz - (All questions are based on chapter 3 in the textbook)
- M2/3: List of Additional Resources
- M2/4: An Additional, Optional Resource for Study
- M2/5: An Additional, Optional Resource for Study
- M2/8: An Additional, Optional Video Resource
- M2/9: An Additional, Optional Video Resource
- M2/10: Reviewing Module 2
4

Module 3: Individuation in Fairy Tales
- M3/1: Learning and Assessment Activities
- M3/2: Video Lesson: Individuation in Fairy Tales
- M3/3: Video Lesson Quiz
- M3/4: Readings Quiz - (All questions are based on chapter 4 in the textbook)
- M3/3: List of Additional Resources.
- M3/4: An Additional, Optional Reading Resource for Study
- M3/5: An Additional, Optional Reading Resource for Study
- M3/6: An additional, Optional Video Resource
- M3/7: Reviewing Module 3
5

Module 4: Redemption Motifs in Fairy Tales
- M4/1: Learning and Assessment Activities
- M4/2: Video Lesson: Redemption Motifs in Fairy Tales
- M4/3: Video Lesson Quiz
- M4/4: Readings Quiz - (All questions are based on chapter 5 in the textbook)
- M4/5: List of Additional Resources
- M4/3: An Additional, Optional Reading Resource for Study
- M4/4: An Additional, Optional Reading Resource for Study
- M4/5: An Additional, Optional Reading Resource for Study
- M4/6: An Additional, Optional Video Resource
- M4/7: An Additional, Optional Video Resource
- M4/8: Reviewing Module 4
6

Module 5: The Shadow and Evil in Fairy Tales
- M5/1: Learning and Assessment Activities
- M5/2: Video Lesson: The Shadow and Evil in Fairy Tales
- M5/3: Module 5 Video Quiz
- M5/4: Module 5 Readings Quiz - (All questions are based on the 1st half of chapter 7 in the textbook)
- M5/3: List of Additional Resources
- M5/4: Additional, Optional Reading Resource for Study
- M5/5: Additional, Optional Reading Resource for Study
- M5/6: An Additional, Optional Video Resource
- M5/7: An Additional, Optional Video Resource
- M5/8: Reviewing Module 5
7

Module 6: Anima and Animus in Fairy Tales
- M6/1: Learning and Assessment Activities
- M6/2: Video Lesson: The Anima and Animus in Fairy Tales
- M6/3: Module 6 Video Lesson Quiz
- M6/4: Module 6 Readings Quiz - (All questions are based on the 2nd half of chapter 7 in the textbook)
- M6/3: List of Additional Resources
- M6/4: Additional, Optional Reading Resource for Study
- M6/5: Additional, Optional Reading Resource for Study
- M6/7: An Additional, Optional Video Resource
- M6/8: An Additional, Optional Video Resource
- M6/9: Reviewing Module 6
8

Module 7: Other Jungians on Fairy Tales
- M7/1: Learning and Assessment Activities
- M7/2: Module 7 Video Lesson: Other Jungians on Fairy Tales
- M7/3: Module 7 Video Lesson Quiz
- M7/4: Module 7 Readings Quiz (All questions are based on The Handless Maiden by Robert Johnson).
- M7/3: List of Additional Resources
- M7/4: An Additional, Optional Reading Resource for Study
- M7/5: An Additional, Optional Reading Resource for Study
- M7/6: An Additional, Optional Reading Resource for Study
- M7/7: An Additional, Optional Video Resource
- M7/8: An Additional, Optional Video Resource
- M7/9: Reviewing Module 7
9

Module 8: Fairy Tales and the 2,000,000-Year-Old Self
- M8/1: Learning and Assessment Activities
- M8/2: Video Lesson: Fairy Tales and the 2,000,000-Year-Old Self
- M8/3: Module 8 Video Lesson Quiz
- M8/4: Module 8 Readings Quiz - (All questions are based on chapter 6 in the textbook)
- M8/3: List of Additional Resources.
- M8/4: Additional, Optional Reading Resource for Study
- M8/5: An Additional, Optional Video Resource
- M8/6: An Additional, Optional Video Resource
- M8/7: An Additional, Optional Video Resource
- M8/8: Reviewing Module 8
- M8/9: Course Completion

How This Course Fits into the Advanced Certificate

Jung and Fairy Tales is the recommended second course in the Advanced Certificate in Foundational Depth Psychology.

The Advanced Certificate in Foundational Depth Psychology continues foundational Jungian study through four major areas of symbolic and historical depth:

This course follows naturally after Jung and Mythology. Mythology opens the pathway through large collective stories, archetypal patterns, sacred narratives, and the symbolic imagination. Fairy tales then focus the symbolic field into more compact narratives that reveal psychic conflict, transformation, and archetypal structure with unusual clarity.

Jung and Fairy Tales also prepares students for the more complex transformation symbolism of Jung and Alchemy and the historical perspective offered in Jung 200. Students may also take Jung and Fairy Tales as a standalone course. It is complete in itself and is especially valuable for students interested in folklore, dreams, symbolic interpretation, creative work, childhood motifs, literature, and the collective psyche.

Continue Your Study of Jung, Fairy Tales, and the Symbolic Life

Jung and Fairy Tales offers a substantial introduction to fairy tales as a living language of the psyche

Whether taken as a standalone course or as the second course in the Advanced Certificate pathway, Jung and Fairy Tales provides a rich foundation for understanding archetypal imagery, symbolic narratives, dream amplification, complexes, shadow, anima, animus, and the individuation process. Enroll now to begin exploring fairy tales as one of the clearest symbolic languages of depth psychology.

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