Receive Grimms Fairy Tales Constructed By Jacob Grimm Disseminated As Script
on Grimms Fairy Tales
glad to have read this, simply because fairy tale plots and themes are used so often in modern literature that it felt good to become acquainted with old versions of the tales and get closer to the original folklore.
I also enjoyed picking up on some of the values of the time that come across in the stories,
That said, most of them are terribly boring, The method of storytelling is something I just could not get comfortable with rapid, perfunctory, repetitive, bizarrely irrational, It was often disturbingly amoral as well, even more so than stories that try to be realistic about how life goes, There are plenty of the happy endings that have come to characterise fairy tales today, but happy endings were certainly not the standard for these tales some are incredibly violent and/or downright depressing.
I'm not criticising the book or fairy tales in general for this they're rich cultural texts that still influence literature today, But I decided to go with a subjective rating, which is to say, I did not really enjoy reading this, however valuable the experience, The book isnt just a collection of picturesque fairy tales The Book is a set of immemorial and immortal archetypes
Hero is always on a quest Hero always wins Ugliness turns into beauty
But when she was in bed he crept to her and said: “I am tired, I want to sleep as well as you, lift me up or I will tell your father.
” At this she was terribly angry, and took him up and threw him with all her might against the wall, “Now, will you be quiet, odious frog,” said she, But when he fell down he was no frog but a kings son with kind and beautiful eyes, He by her fathers will was now her dear companion and husband, Then he told her how he had been bewitched by a wicked witch, and how no one could have delivered him from the well but herself, and that tomorrow they would go together into his kingdom.
Wisdom defeats stupidity Villainy is punished Kindness triumphs Good destroys evil
And those ancient archetypes are never out of date they repeat again and again
The old woman had only pretended to be so kind she was in reality a wicked witch, who lay in wait for children, and had only built the little house of bread in order to entice them there.
When a child fell into her power, she killed it, cooked and ate it, and that was a feast day with her, Witches have red eyes, and cannot see far, but they have a keen scent like the beasts, and are aware when human beings draw near, When Hänsel and Gretel came into her neighborhood, she laughed with malice, and said mockingly: “I have them, they shall not escape me again!
The fairy tale goes on
“How seriously is she playing In a conquered country, ones own occupied country, its better, she believes, to enter into some formal, rationalized version of what, outside, proceeds without form or decent limit day and night, the summary executions, the roustings, beatings, subterfuge, paranoia, shame though it is never discussed among them openly, it would seem Katje, Gottfried, and Captain Blicero have agreed that this Northern and ancient form, one they all know and are comfortable with the strayed children, the woodwife in the edible house, the captivity, the fattening, the Oven shall be their preserving routine, their shelter, against what outside none of them can bear the War, the absolute rule of chance, their own pitiable contingency here, in its midst” Thomas Pynchon Gravitys Rainbow
The fairy tale is retold
“The screaming continued.
Henry yelled and released her, and she slid to the floor, Flames and thick, black smoke shot from the microwave,
She wanted to laugh, So Hansel, so little Gretel, cooking a witch is not quite so easy as you thought, nicht wahr Henry jerked a cord from the wall, Tina noted with amusement that it was the cord of the electric canopener, ” Gene Wolfe In the House of Gingerbread
There is nothing new under the sun but everything keeps renewing, constantly and incessantly, I shall be updating this as I read each story, Ill give their individual star rating and a small review,
Last Updated
The Story of the Youth who went forth to Learn what Fear was
Hmm this was not a great story and yet I really liked it Like it was weird and the ending of how he learnt what fear was, was really ridiculous and yet I liked it I guess since it was so unusual, it worked.
The Wonderful Musician
Was not a fan of this one, didn't like how the musician was unnecessary cruel to the animals who followed him because of his music.
Jorinda and Joringel
This was a better story, about a man who loves his betrothed so much he will find a way to save her no matter how long it takes.
I only wish that the story continued on and see if he saved the rest of the seven thousand,
The Fox and the Horse
Okay this was a good story, I liked how the clever fox knew how to help the Horse to get to his master using his words to convince others.
The Elves
First Story
This story has three mini stories within, I really liked the first story, unlike some retellings that I have read where the Elves stopped helping Instead, here we see them all have a very happy ending.
Second Story
Well, this took an unexpected twist, not the same as the first story, but about a servant who has been asked to be the godmother of a baby elf.
I really enjoyed this.
Third Story
This was an okay story, nothing really special, Just a helping her in how in to get rid of a changeling who has replaced her baby for themselves, and the elves returning the baby to its mother,
The Robber Bridegroom
This was a horrible story however it was well written and the ending really made me happy that those awful rubbers got what they deserved!
The Six Swans
I really liked this story, its about family love and sacrifices made for the ones we love.
Very moving and touching tale,
Old Sultan
I am glad that this story was not unhappy for anyone but they all were friends in the end, despite some mistrust between friends.
The Three SnakeLeaves
Wow, a really good story, Didnt like how awful the princess was and how selfish, she deserved her fate, But a very nice story with an honourable peasant farmer
The Mouse, the Bird and the Sausage
Oh wow! What a gruesome tale! I guess its trying to say work together but dont be selfish and ask for change if something is working well Wow just wow
Little RedCap
Good tale, nothing I didnt expect, but was surprised a little by the ending and how the wolf was killed.
The Straw, the Coal and the Bean
Wow what a weird but funny tale! It reminded a lot of The Mouse, the Bird and the Sausage but at less this one was a lot more funnier to read!
The Bremen TownMusician
Aww I liked this tale about animals who find companion in each other and hell each other to feel safe, secured and well feed.
Cat and Mouse in Partnership
Aww poor mouse, Thats all I will say, What a strange tale indeed
Faithful John
Oh wow that was quite the ordeal, But it was a good story and I liked how the King, Alude his faithful servants sacrifice and would do anything to get him back,
Rumpelstiltskin
Well that was one gruesome ending! Pretty horrible what Rumpelstiltkin did to himself at the end!
The GooseGirl
Ah why does every princess have to be beautiful and that is the only reason why a prince marries her It is no wonder now we live in the same world, where all the girls want to be as beautiful as the girls on the cover magazines and not appreciate their own true self and natural beauty.
The FrogKing, or Iron Henry
Hmm not much of say about this one, Other than the princess was a little bit ungrateful and mean
The Golden Goose
Okay, this was a very different tale but I love it.
It was funny and so weird but so good, Really enjoyed it
The Twelve Brothers
Another favourite, this was a good tale about family and going to all lengths to protect each other, Loved it
The Three Spinners
This reminds me so much of Sleeping Beauty and yet it is not the same as well, Good tale overall.
Our Ladys Child
This tale had a very unique twist to it, It has religious beliefs and values which I really liked and I love the moral at the end,
The Valient Little Tailor
Well, not entirely a romantic tale or about a princess but a tailor, Hence he calls himself the warriors who killed seven in one stroke.
While I dont agree that children should learn about how to lie their way in the world, I did find the taliors ways very clever and quite funny as well.
Cinderella
Cinderella has always been one of my favourite fairytales, I also knew of it grim and dark fate of the stepsisters but what I hadnt realised was
Still love how special this tale is
Little Snow White
Wow! Snow White isyears old! I never thought she was a child! Can you imagine a child withgrown men
This was definitely a lot similar and yet so different to what I imagined Snow White to be, but really enjoyed it too.
Snow White and Rose Red
I very much enjoyed this tale, Its the same as the Snow White that we know but this talks about the tale of two sisters who are very close and did everything together, I liked how the story focuses on their character and personalities rather than their beauty or about the “bad guys motives”, One of my favourites so far,
Hansel and Grethel
This was also a very good story, I liked how the father still cared for his children even though the stepmother didnt.
Interesting throughout and a satisfying ending
Rapunzel
Interesting the ending of this story, very different but still a happy ending.
BriarRose
Similar story to what we know, very fairytale like with a happy ending, Quite enjoyed it.
Sweetheart Roland
Hmm, don't really like this one much, it's like cheating and betrayal, Not my thing. Die Advents und Weihnachtszeit ist für mich auch eine Zeit der Märchen, Ich liebe Märchen, manche natürlich mehr, manche auch weniger, Aber die meisten Märchen der Gebrüder Grimm gefallen mir eigentlich, und vor allen Dingen sind sie auch immer wie eine kleine Reise zurück in die Kindheit, Ich weiß noch, dass meine Oma mir früher immer viel aus dicken Märchenbüchern vorgelesen hat, Das war einfach schön,
Und so habe ich es genossen, mir mit diesem dicken Märchenbuch noch einmal ein paar alte Geschichten zurück ins Gedächtnis zu rufen! I couldn't find the edition I had so I went with one that was closest in date.
Why onlyfor the tails we all remember "fondly" from childhood Think about it, These are "Grimm's" fairy tales and they certainly are "grim", Still there are tales we remember and love so, . Their at least not as "grim" as Andersen's fairy tales! Most of us know many of the fairy tales that make up this book Briar Rose Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Cinderella, Hansel and Gretel or Rapunzel are just a few that can be named.
What nobody tells you is how repetitive these get: there are two tales of Snow White, a neverending amount of tales about three brothers of which the youngest always fares best, a vast array of evil stepmothers and enchanted princes/princesses, among many other storylines that have been turned into clichés by the Grimms.
Although it does get a little bit repetitive by the end of the book, fairy tales like these have infiltrated our common imaginary to such an extent that you can't help but be charmed by these little folk tales, despite the violence and bloodiness and the questionable morals they transmit please remember: if you are ugly and/or a stepmother, you are necessarily EVIL, PERIOD.
My favorite tales, however, are the really absurd ones about dumb people, like Clever Gretel, Clever Hans or The Story of the Youth Who Went Forth to Learn What Fear Was.
A nice way to pass the time, but PLEASE, DO NOT read it to children, The real world is traumatizing enough as it is, .