Publisher: NA (found on internet)
Stories Read: Cinderella, Repunzel, Little Red-Cap, and Little Briar-Rose
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Genre: Fairy Tales
Summary of Repunzel
A man and woman lived next to a powerful enchantress. The enchantress had a beautiful garden and every day the woman looked over to it with longing. She wanted a Repunzel from the enchantress’ garden so stronly that she said she would die if she did not get one. The man crept over the enchantress’ wall to get her one because he feared that she would die otherwise. However, the taste was so delicious that the woman only desired more. Believing that she would die if he did not, the man snuck over the wall once more. This time he was caught by the enchantress. Seeing his pain she took pity on him and instead of killing him, she let him have as many as he wanted on the condition that she could have his first child. When the child was born the enchantress came to claim her. The enchantress called her Repunzel and locked her in a tower with no doors, no stairs, and only one window. To entertain herself the beautiful Repunzel would sing to herself. One day a prince heard Repunzel's singing and later discovered that if he said "Repunzel Repunzel let down your hair" she would toss down her very long beautiful tresses and he could climb up to her. At first Repunzel was hesitant to welcome him but once she knew that he meant her no harm they began to fall in love and the prince desired to marry her. In order to get her down from the tower the prince brought a single silk cloth each time he visited her thinking that Repunzel might use them escape. Unfortunately, Repunzel casually asks why the enchantress is so much heavier to pull up than the prince. When enchantress realizes that the prince has been seeing Repunzel she becomes enraged and cuts off Repunzel’s hair and scasts her into the desert. The enchantress then uses Repunzel's hair to pretend to be her. When the prince comes to visit her the enchantress puts a curse on him so that when he jumps out of the tower to escape the enchantress he lands on thorns and is blinded. He wanders looking for Repunzel. Eventually they encounter each other and Repunzel’s tears bring back the prince’s sight.
Personal Reaction
I really enjoyed reading the Grimm's fairy tales. The story of Repunzel reminded me of a musical that my school performed entitled "Into the Woods". I wasn't aware of it before I read these stories, but apparently the musical was based off of the Grimm's fairy tales.
Potential Problems
The brother's Grimm stories are well known for their gory depictions. Some parents might find it too violently colorful for their children. These concerns would arise from the added detail from when the prince's eyes are poked out by thorns, or from the other stories similar blood filled stories. I would not recommend reading this to a classroom of students.
Recommended to...
These fairy tales would be good to introduce to any child so that they can become familiar with these popular tales. They could be entertaining to boys and girls of various ages.
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