The Lost-and-Found Prince: A Creative Project Exploring Fairy Tales and the Parable of the Prodigal Son

Abstract

This creative writing project explores the intersection of fairy tales, their illustrations, and the Parable of the Prodigal Son. I discuss the foundational aspects of the parable, what it means as both a biblical and literary text, and the countless ways it has been adapted in order to determine its key features. Then, the Grimm brothers’ literary fairy tale form is examined as an influence on culture and as a distinct style of narrative. Next, fairy tale illustrations’ impacts on art movements and the stories in which they’re found are investigated to understand their use and importance to the genre. Finally, I retell the Prodigal Son parable as a fairy tale in the literary style of the Grimm brothers, and I create accompanying illustrations that converse with the narrative, exploring the shared ground between faith and fantasy and the importance of a happily ever after.