Children’s Classic Read October
A German fairy tale collected by the Brothers Grimm and published in 1812 as part of Grimm’s Fairy Tales (KHM 15). It is also known as Little Step Brother and Little Step Sister.
Hansel and Gretel are siblings who are abandoned in a forest and fall into the hands of a witch who lives in a gingerbread, cake, and candy house. The witch, who has cannibalistic intentions, intends to fatten Hansel before eventually eating him. However, Gretel saves her brother by pushing the witch into her own oven, killing her, and escaping with the witch’s treasure.
Set in medieval Germany, “Hansel and Gretel” has been adapted into various media, including the opera Hänsel und Gretel by Engelbert Humperdinck, which was first performed in 1893.
One of the more frightening for children it has pretty sad and scary truths. Although “Hansel and Gretel” is not a real story, parts of the fairy tale were inspired by real events, such as the famine of the early 1300s, or the fact that some parents did abandon or kill their children during times of famine.
I plan to read all the copies that the library has and the three that I own. It seems to be fitting to read in October.
