Question

Read the excerpt from Julio's essay about folk tales.

When people think of the Grimms’ fairy tales, they think of well-loved children's stories. The cleaned-up adaptations we read now have a reputation for being childhood favorites. However, the stories did not start out that way. The Grimm brothers actually collected tales that were passed on from person to person about terrible living conditions and challenges that people faced. These stories are dark and often tragic. But Germany is not the only source of folklore that, rather than serving as bedtime stories, might keep kids up at night or give them nightmares. Tales of monsters, evil witches, and other horrors can be found in other cultures as well. For example, the Baba Yaga stories from Russia and other Slavic countries portray a scary-looking witch who flies around in a mortar, carries a pestle, and might help or harm, depending on her mood. She is not exactly a calming character for sleepy children.

Which thesis does Julio present effectively?

The Grimms' fairy tales are well-loved children's stories.
Many folk tales are not happy children’s stories but dark, realistic tales.
All folk tales are dark, realistic tales.
The Grimms' fairy tales we read now are the most realistic versions.

Answer 1

Many folk tales are not happy children’s stories but dark, realistic tales.

Julio argues that Grimms’ tales began as dark, tragic stories about real hardships and gives Baba Yaga as another example from a different culture, supporting the broader point that folk tales can be grim rather than child-friendly.