The dynamics of symbolism in European fairy tales

In his book, F. Vaz da Silva chooses fairytales as his “pointers to universals in human thinking [...] heuristical[ly] define[d] as relevant dimensions of European mythism” which will “prove fruitful in crosscultural analysis involving non-European representations” (9). If fairytales will be his tools, metamorphosis — “where fundamental symbols thrive” (loc.cit.) — will be the touchstone of his enquiry