The truly gruesome and often revolting original twists in our favorite fairy tales. Fairy talesat least as we know themare a childhood staple. Finding the earliest version of any given common fairy tale is an almost impossible endeavor. Most of the following tales are probably familiar to you in a disneyfied version which ends happily ever after, but earlier. In the original story, pinocchio killed jiminy cricket, got. True loves kiss and happily ever afters were childs play for the writers that came before walt disney. These famous tales go back thousands of years and have been retold over and over again. In his version of cinderella, a poor girl worked to the bone by her evil. Tales of mother goose, there is no intrepid huntsman.
However, there are still fairly watered down from the true original tales. The true stories behind classic fairy tales huffpost. Barrie and the grimm brothers much preferred a haunting tale over a romantic. I n fact, the o riginal fairy tales contrast with modern tales especially in the manner in which they end. The original first edition of the brothers grimm fairytales, which is no doubt a staple story book in most homes, was not too long ago translated into english for the first time, and people were shocked with the gory details of the stories.
The brothers grimm published it in 1812 in the first edition of their collection grimms fairy tales and numbered as tale 53. The original folk and fairy tales of the brothers grimm book. In the original version of rapunzel, published in 1812, a prince. Some fairy tales are based on legends that incorporated a spiritual belief of the culture in which they originated, and were meant to emulate truth. But hidden sexual innuendos in grimms fairy tales remained, according to psychoanalysts, including sigmund freud and erich fromm, who examined the book in the 20th century. While were all familiar with the disneyfied versions of fairytales, the familyfriendly movies leave out some of the darker and more gruesome details from the original novels and fairytales. The disturbing truth behind the brothers grimm fairy tales.
How the children played at slaughtering, for example, stays true to its title. We should bring forth, that the author did not know he was quoting from a fairy tale. Disney movies and fairy tales are meant to provide comfortand life lessons, for little children. Fairy tales of the past were often full of macabre and gruesome twists and endings. The original versions of most of these fantasy stories are filled with plot twists that belong in a modern slasher film. Translated by margaret hunt, this is the only book that contains the complete collection of the brothers grimm fairy tales 200 fairy tales and 10 legends. The original folk and fairy tales of the brothers grimm. The first volume of grimms fairy tales was released in 1812, and the second in 1814. Mar 20, 2014 in the original story, pinocchio killed jiminy cricket, got his feet burnt off, and was hanged and left for dead march 20, 2014 emily upton 22 comments you probably already knew that disney has a habit of taking dark, twisted childrens fairy tales and turning them into sickeningly sweet happilyeverafters. Classic fairy tales have been read by almost every contemporary young or old reader. The truth behind disney fairytales oxymoron entertainment blog. Each book in the origins of fairy tales series contains seven different variants of a particular story from all around the world.
These narrative gems, newly translated and brought together in one beautiful book, are accompanied by sumptuous new illustrations from awardwinning artist andrea dezso. Once upon a time, long before gus gus and prince charming, fairy tales were. When disney turns an old fairy tale like snow white and the seven dwarfs into a movie, you can probably guess that they water down and dress up the original story to make it more. Before the grimm brothers gathered their collection of wellknown german folk fairy tales into a single written volume, these stories followed an oral tradition, being passed on from grandmother to mother to children. It includes many tales, some of them you might have heard from your parents and grandparents in your childhood. A new english version, edited by fabulist extraordinaire philip pullman and on shelves today, is packed with them, complete with smart commentary and. Disneys adaptations of fairy tales and stories have been casting a little bit of magic over our childhoods since their original animated feature film, snow white and the seven dwarfs, in 1937. Barrie and the grimm brothers much preferred a haunting tale over a romantic one, but a few of their most. Apr 14, 2015 fairy tales used to be stories aimed at both adult and child alike and the grownup themes they portray is good evidence 25 dark and disturbing original versions of childrens fairy tales see your favorite fairy tales like youve never seen them before. Disney has retold many of those fairytales and in a previous blog we shared some secrets behind disney fairytales. With its eponymous female character having become a landmark of denmark in the form of a statue, the original tale by hans christian andersen is one of the more tragic of all stories in the entire fairy tale canon. A book with 210 fairy tales compiled in it by the grimm brothers, jacob and wilhelm in early 19th century. The brothers grimm told stories with meat on their bones, where the good people were heroes and the bad people were really, really bad.
Due to their popularity and charm, many fairy tales have been analyzed and developed into more detailed complex versions, often with a twist on the central core of each tale. While walt disney brought us some of our most beloved childrens stories, the original brothers grimm fairy tales are definitely not for kids. In charles perrault s version, included in his 1697 collection stories or fairy tales from past times. My bedtime reads were carefully curated to remain free of the imaginative elements inherent in fairy tales and science fiction. Five dark and gruesome fairytales behind classic disney. Mar 22, 2014 fairy talesat least as we know themare a childhood staple. Having recently seen the film the brothers grimm which stars matt damon and the late heath ledger on dvd, i was expecting to read about the real life stories that the fairy tales grew from not that the film was exactly a documentary. These stories arent your happy endings but rather sometimes gruesome and shocking tales. Where modern versions claim that the spell is broken by the kiss of the princess, the reality is that the princes transformation was occasioned by the spoilt and petulant princess flinging the unassuming. New versions of old fairy tales around the bend of the book.
Fairy tales may merge into legends, where the narrative is perceived both by teller and hearers as being grounded in historical truth. The queen was pretty evil even in the disney version but in the brothers grimm original shes actually a cannibal. Grimm brothers fairytales have blood and horror restored in new. In this version, the little girl is a well bred young lady who is given false instructions by the wolf when she asks the way to her grandmothers. The tortoise is so slow that the hare decides to taunt him by showing off and fucking around for the entire race, but he ultimately gets too distracted by his own. In the original version of the story, a demonic troll creates a lookingglass that reflects even the most beautiful things back as being ugly and hideously distorted. The incredibly gory original versions of nine modern. These days, companies like disney have sanitized them for a. Memories of my childhood reside firmly in the literal and concrete. Original fairy tales childrens stories and their history. A friendly frog helps a queen and a princess to escape a lion witch.
A little while back we posted a blog about our beloved disney fairytales. Apr 14, 2015 these stories arent your happy endings but rather sometimes gruesome and shocking tales. To order the original folk and fairy tales of the brothers grimm for. In the original story, pinocchio killed jiminy cricket, got his feet burnt off, and was hanged and left for dead march 20, 2014 emily upton 22 comments you probably already knew that disney has a habit of taking dark, twisted childrens fairy tales and turning them into sickeningly sweet happilyeverafters. A little weed feels worthless, until it helps some hungry. Here are the dark original stories and fairy tales behind your favourite disney films. Nov 12, 20 there is one unfortunate detail that the story does leave out. Beverly this is a translation of the very first edition that the brothers grimm had published in. The gruesome origins of classic fairy tales abebooks. Disneys tale of two sisters, frozen, is very loosely based on a book called the snow queen by danish author hans christian andersen. Oct 23, 2017 memories of my childhood reside firmly in the literal and concrete.
The real stories behind these disney movies will ruin your. In part, thats because fairy tales didnt start out as childrens stories, but rather as tawdry folktales that grownups told for entertainment after the kids went to bed when the grimms published their first edition of nursery and household tales in two volumes in. The story of beautiful snow white, the seven dwarfs and the evil queen. Then three days, and three nights of darkness, in egypt, and then, the false scribes copied the fairy tale of jonah, to use for the son. Some companies such as disney changed the creepy version so that the childhood of people all over the world wont be ruined. As we all know, fairy tales usually have cheerful endings.
The original versions of some of our bestloved fairy tales are a far cry from their disneyfied incarnations with violence, gore, sexual threat, abuse and poverty all part of the plot. The terrifying origin stories behind your favorite disney. There is one unfortunate detail that the story does leave out. Nov 08, 2012 luckily, fairy tales from the brothers grimm. A recent article in live science magazine delved into fairy tales for glimpses of truth. However, whether its hans christan andersens original heartbreaking ending to the little mermaid or the brutal desperation of cinderellas stepsisters in the brothers grimm tale, the. The first three day, three nights, fairy tales was the 4th day creation, of the sun,moon, and stars. The truth about the sleeping beauty fairy tale altered. A newly expanded edition of the defining book on one of french romanticisms most influential. The beast allows belle to travel home, as long as she is only gone for a week. It includes an indepth introduction to the fairy tale genre itself, as well as the folkloric provenance of the fairy tale. Many times the phrase fairy tale is used to describe tall tales or other stories that not only arent true but couldnt possibly be true.
However, fairy tale is a type of short narrative that typically features such folkloric characters, such as fairies, goblins, elves, trolls, dwarves, giants or gnomes, and usually magic or enchantments. Fairy tales used to be stories aimed at both adult and child alike and the grownup themes they portray is good evidence 25 dark and disturbing original versions of childrens fairy tales see your favorite fairy tales like youve never seen them before. Ancient norse and greek mythology sat on library shelves unexplored, and the entire cannon of classic disney films never flashed across our tv screens. Little red riding hood is a french fairy tale about a young girl and a big bad wolf. Jan 21, 2014 classic fairy tales have been read by almost every contemporary young or old reader. Foolishly riding hood takes the advice of the wolf and ends up being eaten. The original grimms brothers fairy tales were a far cry from the perrault collection of many of the same stories, the green fairy book by andrew lang, or, god forbid, walt disney. Other original fairy tales which raise eyebrows include cinderella. Fairy tales featured in this series include cinderella, bluebeard, little red riding hood, sleeping beauty, rapunzel, beauty and the beast. When you think of fairy tales, you most likely think of sweet stories heard as a child.
Snow white is a 19thcentury german fairy tale which is today known widely across the western world. In fact, not many of the original authors of our favorite fairy tales did. Fairy tales take us out of our everyday lives into magical lands filled with possibilities that excite and expand the imagination. These narrative gems, newly translated and brought together in one beautiful book, are accompanied by sumptuous new illustrations from awardwinning artist.
Numerous fairy tales, and the legends behind them, are actually watereddown versions of uncomfortable historical events. To our surprise, the original fairy tales are pretty tragic and even creepy. Once upon a time, long before gus gus and prince charming, fairy tales were brimming with murder and torture. This, of course, makes us think of the preeminent teller of fairy tales in our culture. The 1950 disney film was in fact based on french storyteller charles. The brothers grimm, a pair of german siblings who created some of the original tales in the 19th century, didnt shy away from any gory. Many years have passed since the time jackob and wilhelm grimm released their childrens and household tales. The incredibly gory original versions of nine modern fairytales. The 5 creepiest foreign versions of disney fairy tales. Its origins can be traced back to the 10th century to several european folk tales, including one from italy called the false grandmother. In the original story, pinocchio killed jiminy cricket. I bought this to use while writing a report on the gruesome truth behind the tales we love. Despite its title, the book was not intended for children to access independently. The original folk and fairy tales of the brothers grimm princeton.
Cinderella and beauty and the beast are two wellknown classics that have been turned insideout and. But in fact, the original french version by charles perrault of the tale was not quite so nice. Fairy tales from around the world new ones every week. The best known version was written by charles perrault the story has been changed considerably in various retellings and subjected to numerous modern. The first edition of the brothers grimm fairytales. What you may not know is that these earliest oral versions of our most. For the very first time, the original folk and fairy tales of the brothers grimm makes available in english all 156 stories from the 1812 and 1815 editions. In order to save folk tales and preserve them for future generations, the german brothers grimm collected stories that had been passed from generation to generation. The version youve heard in the tortoise and the hare, which some of you may only know from one of its many cartoon adaptations, a humble tortoise and a pompous hare have a race. Unlike the more childfriendly versions, in which the little mermaid chases and finds her happiness, the original mermaid never succeeds in gaining the princes love. The original folk and fairy tales of the brothers grimm by jacob. A prince called desire seeks a bride in warmer lands. Like cinderella, snow white, clever hans, girl without hands, gossip wolf and the fox etc.
Recently adapted into 2009s the princess and the frog, the original grimm fairy tale is, unfortunately, far less sentimental and romantic than its modern adaptations. Jan 03, 2017 the dark origins of the grimms fairy tales. The first edition and was very modest, both in appearance and capacity there were only 83 fairy tales, compared to the 200 we know today. We know the classics by heart, but our beloved disneydiluted iterations couldnt be further from their true, markedly more sinister origins.