Parodies in Lithuanian children’s folklore of the 21st century: the world turned upside down

ENCurrently, a lot of traditional and new folklore genres are popular among children and teenagers. It is also noteworthy that children at different ages tend to give preferences to genres that are more relevant and interesting for them. In early childhood, it is more often parents and teachers who try to make young children acquainted with traditions and folklore. Later, teenagers decide on their own (from the large package of cultural heritage) what is actually for them. It is characteristic that teenagers like to destroy the world of various folkloristic genres and plots in order to create a new one. They know how to create parodies of well-known plots and tend to demonstrate their changed attitude to the plots which were important to them at an earlier stage of life. The main goal of the chapter is to show how two opposite genres - fairy tales and horror stories - are parodied, and to discuss the changes in their form and content. Parodies of horror stories, just like their true versions, help children to overcome various fears. Parodies of fairy tales, in which the actions and values of heroes are turned upside down and are very different from those of the dwellers of an ideal world, still teach children and teenagers how to behave and evaluate various nowadays situations.