Hansel and Gretel: What Folk and Fairy Tales Teach Readers

Hansel and Gretel is one of the many oral folk tales that German brothers, Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, first published into written literary works. The Grimm brothers, Charles Perrault, and Hans Christian Anderson were architects of children’s literature. The Grimm’s first publishings were not intended for children due to the subject matter. In fact, they revised editions to better suit children. For example, in Hansel and Gretel, the wicked stepmother was originally the mother. In modern literature, fairy tales are often labeled as cliche, however; they teach important life lessons and psychological concepts. Read More