Freud’s essay on the “Uncanny” can be said to have defined, for our century, what literary criticism once called the Sublime.
Topic
Freud’s idea of the “uncanny” versus the psychology of fairy tales and their therapeutic value for children, especially in the work of Bruno Bettelheim.
Framework
Old / New (Contrast of Freud’s theory and Bettelheim’s use of fairy tales); Highlight Noteworthy (spotlights a significant development/change in thinking)
Main Point
Freud thought fairy tales couldn’t provoke uncanny feelings because “everything is possible,” but Bettelheim showed that fairy tales can be deeply therapeutic for children, helping them process inner conflicts—a major contribution to both psychoanalysis and literary interpretation. *The Most Valuable Sentence: (Paragraph 5)*
P1: Freud’s Theory of the Uncanny
Freud defined the “uncanny” in literature as a feeling of the supernatural or “beyond,” grounded in the mind’s power. He thought this came from subconscious beliefs, especially those we repress.
P2: Freud Excludes Fairy Tales
You’d expect fairy tales to be perfect for Freud’s uncanny, but he actually didn’t think so—because in fairy tales, fantastical things are normal, so nothing feels unsettling or “incredible” to the reader.
P3: Bettelheim’s Freudian Lens on Fairy Tales
Bruno Bettelheim, a psychoanalyst, took the opposite route and applied Freudian interpretations to fairy tales, focusing on their meaning for children. Despite overlooking broader literary traditions, his work is respected for its insights.