Perspective

Literary period

Published in 1890, “The Well of the World’s End” is a fairy tale and belongs to the folklore genre. Folklore is a collection of stories, proverbs, jokes, rituals, objects, etc. common to a culture, subculture, or group. Fairy tales can be recognised through themes, narrative techniques, and certain specific elements. “The Well of the World’s End” explores the theme of transformation, which is a common theme in fairy tales.

In terms of narrative techniques, “The Well of the World’s End” uses antithesis, repetition, and symbolism. Symbolism is used to convey more information about the setting, the characters, and the events, and give deeper meanings to the story. “The Well of the World’s End” also features many elements which are frequently encountered in fairy tale...