We were informed that, although authors such as Hans Christian Anderson and The Brothers Grimm are thought to have created numerous original fairy tales. Their stories were taken from much older legends and tales. 'Fairy Stories' were known earlier as 'Scare Stories'. They were meant to frighten children, often by teaching them morals.
For example, the version of Little Red Riding Hood, that we know today, is most similar to that of The Brothers Grimm's. However, the story dates back much further. In older versions, she was a pre-teen/teenage girl, who wore red to symbolise the fact that she was about to start her period. All the women in The Village came to her house to celebrate her becoming a women and gave her advice. She had to go on a right-of-passage type journey to her Grandmother's house. She could choose between two paths- pins or needles and she chose needles. On her way, she met a werewolf who told her that he would take the path of pins. The werewolf beat Little Red Riding Hood to her Grandmother's house and ate The Grandmother, leaving a bottle of her blood and her liver for later. Upon arriving to her Grandmother's house, Little Red Riding Hood saw the werewolf in her Grandmother's bed, 'slept with him' and drunk her Grandmother's blood and ate her Grandmother's liver. This Story is about becoming a woman.
Another well known Brothers Grim tale, is known as, Sleeping Beauty. In original versions she is a girl who is observed as she grows older, by a man. Many times that man asks for her to be his, but she refuses. One day he tried to force himself upon her. In her struggle, she hit her head on a rock and was knocked unconscious. He raped her and impregnated her. In a panic, her ran off, but she was later found by her family. They looked after her, as she seemed as though she was simply in a deep sleep. Soon after she was woken up by labour pains.
Afterwards, we listened to a radio version of 'The Wild Bride'. It was once a popular theatrical show, taken from an original story and now, it has been adapted for The Radio. It was at first difficult to pick up all that was happening, as I am not use to following stories in this way. Though, I found that with concentration, I understood what was going on.
Lastly we were asked to get into our 'Theatre For Children' Groups, in order to find a legend, myth or tale to tell to the rest of the class. We chose 'Hurleburlebutz'. Here is the full story:
Once upon a time, a king was lost in a deep forest when, suddenly, a small white dwarf appeared to him. The dwarf told the king he’d help him find his way out of the forest in return for the king’s youngest daughter. The king, finding himself afraid in the deep, dark wood, agreed. The dwarf delivered the king safely back to his castle and told him he’d be back in a week for his daughter.
Now, of course the king was sad—his youngest was his favourite. But his daughters, once he’d told them the deal, said not to worry, we’ll soon get rid of the dwarf. A week later, the daughters found an unsuspecting cowherd’s daughter, kitted her out in pretty clothes and told her to go with the first person who came to fetch her. That person was a fox, who said, “Sit down on my furry tail, Hurleburlebutz! Off to the forest!” Off they went, but when the fox ordered the cowherd’s daughter to pick lice out of his fur and she readily agreed, he knew he had the wrong lady. Back to the castle with you! A week later, the fox came back and this time, it was the gooseherd’s daughter he took with him to the forest; another attempted delousing, and he knew he had the wrong lady. Back to the castle!
The third time the fox returned, the king gave over his daughter and the fox carried her into the forest. This time, when he demanded a delousing, she cried, “I’m a king’s daughter and yet I must delouse a fox!” He knew he had the right bride, so he transformed himself back into the little white dwarf from the beginning of the story. The couple lived together happily for awhile, until one day, the dwarf said, “I’ve got to go away, but three white doves will soon come flying here. When they swoop down to the ground, catch the middle one. Once you’ve got it, cut off its head right away. But pay attention and make sure you’ve got the middle dove, or it’ll be disaster.” The doves came, the princess caught the middle one, hacked off its head and poof! A handsome prince appeared! Turns out, the white dwarf had been under a nasty fairy’s spell and this whole complicated charade was the only way to lift it. Obviously.
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