This especially applies to the Raggedy legends. One of the distinguishing features of a legend is that, unlike an out-and-out fairy tale, it is factual-sounding enough to be believable. What makes this even more intriguing is that fact that Johnny Gruelle, either unwittingly or with the great sense of humor he was known for, initiated many of these legends, a number of which are continuously repeated as the factual history of Raggedy Ann and Andy. Because Gruelle was a natural born storyteller, it followed that his dolls would star in whimsical, fanciful tales, based on fantasy and make believe.īecause of this, Johnny Gruelle's little rag dolls have also found themselves at the center of several legend cycles - groups of stories that, while containing kernels of truth, are more myth than they are history. They were literary characters as well, possessing attributes and outlooks reflecting trustworthiness, kindness, and spunk. At the hand of their creator, cartoonist-illustrator-author Johnny Gruelle, the Raggedys weren't ever simply dolls. Raggedy Ann, and her equally spirited rag brother, Andy are the world's best-known and most adored rag dolls.
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