Crescent moon Quote by Elizabeth J. Andrew
““When you enter the woods of a fairy tale and it is night, the trees tower on either side of the path. They loom large because everything in the world of fairy tales is blown out of proportion. If the owl shouts, the otherwise deathly silence magnifies its call. The tasks you are given to do (by the witch, by the stepmother, by the wise old woman) are insurmountable - pull a single hair from the crescent moon bear's throat; separate a bowl's worth of poppy seeds from a pile of dirt. The forest seems endless. But when you do reach the daylight, triumphantly carrying the particular hair or having outwitted the wolf; when the owl is once again a shy bird and the trees only a lush canopy filtering the sun, the world is forever changed for your having seen it otherwise. From now on, when you come upon darkness, you'll know it has dimension. You'll know how closely poppy seeds and dirt resemble each other. The forest will be just another story that has absorbed you, taken you through its paces, and cast you out again to your home with its rattling windows and empty refrigerator - to your meager livelihood, which demands, inevitably, that you write about it.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: Fairy Tale Metaphor on Challenges, Elizabeth J. Andrew, 2023
Fairy tale trials exaggerate obstacles, teaching that confronting darkness reveals hidden strengths and perspective shifts.
In simple terms: Facing exaggerated challenges reveals growth.
Embrace challenges to gain new insight.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- personal development
- creative writing
- mental health
- problem solving
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What “darkness" have you faced?
- How did it reshape your view?
Overcoming obstacles may not always lead to positive change.