Category: fairy tale

"One Eye, Two-Eyes, and Three-Eyes" by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm Today's fairy tale is another one I had never heard before. The version I read can be found at SurLaLune Fairy Tales. It's an odd little story. There's a woman who has three daughters. The oldest has one eye in the middle of her forward, the middle child has two eyes just like other people, and the youngest has three eyes, two in the regular position and one in the middle of her forehead. It doesn't mention how many eyes the mother has, but Two-Eyes' mother and sisters torment her for not being special. They make her wear rags, give her little to eat and basically make her life miserable. One day, while Two-Eyes is watching the goat in the field and crying, an old woman appears and asks her why she is crying. When Two-Eyes replies that she is always hungry, the woman teaches her a magic chant to say to the...

"The Butterfly" by Hans Christian Andersen I had never heard of "The Butterfly" and even after reading, it isn't familiar at all. It's actually a sad little story. There's a butterfly who is searching for a bride, for a pretty flower to marry. It's early spring and there are many flowers "seated quietly and demurely on their stalks, just as maidens should sit before they are engaged." Too many, actually, so he asks the daisy, a wise flower, which of the many would be the perfect mate for him. She doesn't answer, because he offended her with the way he phrased the question. In spring, he passes by the crocus and the snowdrop. Then he flies by the anemones (too sour), the violets (too sentimental), the lime-blossoms (too small). He passes by the apple-blossoms, the pea-blossom and the honeysuckle, finding some fault with each. Autumn came and still he had no wife. Now, none of the flowers had the fresh, youthful...

I read a Neil Gaiman poem recently in A Wolf at the Door. The title was "Instructions" which describes the poem perfectly. It's instructions on what to do if you find yourself in a fairy tale. It's cute but true to the fairy tale standards. Help those who ask for it, don't steal from an old woman's house. It's about trust and hope and seeking. Remember: that giants sleep too soundly; that witches are often betrayed by their appetites; dragons have one soft spot, somewhere, always; hearts can be well-hidden, and you betray them with your tongue. At the end, if you follow the instructions, you will return home, safe and sound, although changed by your journey. Of course, we all know that even if you follow the rules, a journey through fairy tale land is dangerous, indeed. You can read the whole poem at The Endicott Studio. It's also on Gaiman's Speaking in Tongues CD and according to the Neil Gaiman Online Store, if  "despite following...

"Little Red Riding Hood" by Charles Perrault Perrault's version of "Little Red Riding Hood" was first printed in 1697, which is why I chose to read it for today's Fairy Tale Friday rather than the more familiar Grimm's version, told in the 19th century. Little Red Riding Hood, a "little country girl, the prettiest ever seen," was given her nickname because of the red hood that her grandmother had made. Notice that the cloak is red, a vibrant color often associated with sexuality and with blood. Anyway, one day Red Riding Hood is sent by her mother to her grandmother's house in the next village with a cake and some butter, since her grandmother has been feeling ill. Along the way, she meets the wolf who wants to eat her but comes up with a better plan. He asks her where she is going. She tells him and he responds that he will go there too and they will see who gets there...