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Hansel and Gretel by Grimm Brothers
DETAILED SUMMARY
Hansel and Gretel by Jacob and Wilhelm Grim
This popular fairy-tale "Hansel and Gretel" has been written by Jacob and Wilhelm Grim, German philologists and collectors of fairy tales. The main characters of this fairy-tale are Hansel and Gretel who are brother and sister by their relationship. This fairy-tale has presented the struggles done by these two kids in the jungle.
According to this story, a long time ago, a poor woodcutter's family lived in a small house near a jungle. There were altogether four members in that family. The woodcutter was the single bread-earner in the house. He had his second wife and two kids. His first wife had died many years before. His kids Hansel and Gretel were from his first wife. Both kids' father and stepmother are unnamed here in this story.
Once, there was a famine in that village. The woodcutter became quite upset and talked about that matter to his wife. His wife advised him to desert both kids in the jungle. The woodcutter didn't want to leave his kids in the jungle but his wife persuaded him. Hansel heard all their plans and informed Gretel about that. Gretel started crying after hearing her brother's words. Hansel comforted her and made her quiet. He went outside and filled his pockets with pebbles. He came back and slept. The next day, early in the morning, parents took the kids with them towards the jungle. While walking, Hansel kept on pausing himself to drop pebbles on the way from his pocket. He dropped the pebbles so that he could easily find the trail back to his home. When his father asked him the reason behind pausing himself, he replied his father that a small cat, on the roof of his house, was saying bye to him.
Hasel kept on dropping the pebbles all the way. When they reached the middle part of the jungle, the father lit the fire for them and asked them to wait until they came back. After they were deserted, Gretel started weeping. Hansel comforted her and asked her to wait for the moon to appear in the sky. When the moon appeared in the sky, the pebbles which Hansel had dropped on the way, started to shine. Following those shiny pebbles, both kids reached their home next early in the morning. Father became quite happy to find his kids back home but their step-mother became quite angry.
Time passed by. Next, they again faced another famine. Hansel again heard the plans of his parents one night. Hansel wanted to fill up pebbles but the door was locked from outside by his step-mother. Hansel comforted his sister saying that God would save them.
The second time, the kids were taken to the densest part of the jungle. The parents again lit the fire for them and made the same promise as earlier. They waited for the moon but they couldn't get the help of the moon's rays because all their bread crumbs had been eaten up by the birds in the jungle. They got lost in the great jungle for three days. They wandered much but couldn't find their way back home.
On the third day, while they were sitting under a big tree, they heard a sweet melodious song of a white bird. That bird was flying just over the ground sitting on a branch of one tree to the next. Both of them followed that white bird. That bird led the kids to the house which was made of bread and sugar.
Both hungry kids became so happy and hurriedly started eating the house greedily. A bit later, an old woman came out crying, "Who is nibbling my little house?"
Both kids answered her question saying that the wind was eating her little house. At first, both kids became quite fearful to see that old woman. But, that woman welcomed both of them in a very splendid manner in her home. She served delicious food items to them. She even prepared fine beds for them to sleep in. Both kids felt it as a heavenly pleasure. They couldn't know the real but they couldn't get the help of the moon's rays because all their bread crumbs had been eaten up by the birds in the jungle. They got lost in the great jungle for three days. They wandered a lot but couldn't find their way back home.
On the third day, while they were sitting under a big tree, they heard the sweet, melodious song of a white bird. That bird was flying just over the ground, sitting on a branch from one tree to the next. Both of them followed that white bird. That bird led the kids to the house, which was made of bread and sugar.
Both hungry kids became so happy and hurriedly started eating the house greedily. A bit later, an old woman came out crying, "Who is nibbling my little house?"
Both kids answered her question, saying that the wind was eating her little house. At first, both kids became quite fearful to see that old woman. But that woman welcomed both of them in a very splendid manner in her home. She served them delicious food items. She even prepared fine beds for them to sleep in. Both kids felt it was a heavenly pleasure. They couldn't know the real intentions of that old woman. That old woman wasn't kind, but she was a very wicked witch who liked to eat children's meat.
The next day, she showed her real behaviour to the kids. She wanted to eat Hansel's meat, but Hansel's physique was quite thin. So, she imprisoned Hansel inside the shed to fatten him. She compelled Gretel to do household tasks. She gave delicious food items to Hasel inside the cage to fatten him.
She even checked with Hansel to see if he had become fat or not. Hansel showed his tact by showing a piece of bone instead of his finger. After some days, the wicked witch got very impatient. She decided to eat Hansel's meat. She asked Gretel to check the oven to see if it was hot or not. Very tactfully, Gretel pretended that she didn't know how to check the oven. Being furious, when the witch was showing the way to check the oven to Gretel, Gretel gave her a hard push from behind.
As the witch fell into the oven, Gretel immediately locked the oven's lid. That witch died inside the oven. Later on, Gretel released her brother. Both of the kids took a lot of jewels from the witch's house. They wandered here and there again in search of the right way back home.
After some time, they heard the sound of surging water. When they reached there, they found the expanse of the river's water without any boat or bridge. Luckily, they saw a huge white duck. Hansel and Gretel urged the white duck to take them across the river through their song. The white duck took them across the river one by one. On the other side, they found their actual way to get back home.
When they reached home, their father became quite happy. They gave all the jewels to their father, which they had taken from the witch's house. They knew about the death of their stepmother. They lived happily thereafter.
SHORT SUMMARY
Hansel and Gretel by Jacob and Wilhelm Grim
A poor woodcutter once lived near a forest. His children, Hansel and Gretel, were cruelly treated by his wife. Once, there was famine, and the wife advised her husband to leave the children in the forest. The husband was unwilling to do so because he loved his children too much. Having heard the stepmother’s plan, Hansel collected shiny pebbles at night. He dropped those pebbles when they were leaving for the forest. In the forest, when their parents deserted them, they returned home, following the shinny pebbles in the moonlight. Next time, their parents deserted them in the forest. That time, they could not return home. After three days of searching for their home, they found a house made of cake, sugar, and bread. A witch came and trapped them. She put Hansel in the cage to eat him. But by the wit of Hansel and Gretel, they both were freed. Gretel even killed the witch with her clever trick. After collecting lots of jewels from the witch’s house, they returned home, crossing a big river with the help of a white duck. When they got home, they discovered that their stepmother had already died. They gave all the jewels to their father and lived a happy life thereafter.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Hansel and Gretel by Jacob and Wilhelm Grim
Why does Hansel drop shiny pebbles on the way to the forest?
Answer:
Hansel drops shiny pebbles on the way to the forest during his first descent. After hearing his wicked stepmother’s plan in the evening, he collects the shiny pebbles in his pocket. The next day, while moving towards the forest, Hansel stops time and again on the way to drop the shiny pebbles. He drops all these pebbles on the forest’s way to get his way back home easily.
Summarise the story ‘Hansel and Gretel’ in about 200 words.
Answer:
This is a fantastic story written by the Grim Brothers. The story centres around two characters, Hansel and Gretel. Hansel and Gretel were brothers and sisters. They were the kids of a poor woodcutter. They were so poor. They lived in a small house near the jungle. Their mother had died some years ago. Their father had brought a new mother for them who was so wicked. At the time of the famine, the stepmother planned to leave the kids in the dense forest. In their first descent, they successfully returned home, following shiny pebbles that Hansel had dropped while moving towards the jungle. Next time, they were left in the deeper part of the jungle. The second time, they were unable to return home because the bread crumbs that Hansel had dropped were eaten up by the birds in the jungle.
They wandered for three days, tired and hungry. Later on, they reached the house made of sweets, following a beautiful white bird. They met an old lady in that house who treated them well and served them in a very fine manner that particular evening. The next day, she showed her real behaviour and started torturing them. She imprisoned Hansel and made Gretel do hard work. The witch waited for the right time to chop Hansel down. Hansel and Gretel showed their tactful acts at the end of the story. Eventually, Gretel pushed the witch inside the hot oven and released Hansel from the cage with her tricks. Both of them returned home safely, crossing a big river with the help of a large white duck. They brought a lot of jewels along with them. They got the news of their stepmother’s death. They lived a happy life thereafter.
What role does the witch have in the story? What does she symbolize? (Hansel and Gretel)
Answer:
In this story, the witch has a negative role. She entices the kids into her house on the very first evening by showing them various facilities for lodging and delicious food items. She does so to fulfil her desire. For her own sake, she traps the kids. She is intending to eat their meat. Through her negative role, we can say that she symbolises selfishness and cruelty. Her selfishness and cruelty can easily be observed through her activities. Her activities of trapping kids and making them compel show her cruelty and selfishness.
How does the witch receive the two children on the first night at the witch’s house?
Answer:
On the first night, the witch splendidly receives the two children. She warmly welcomes them into her house. She serves a delicious dinner for Hansel and Gretel. Hansel and Gretel become so happy to have the pleasure of such delicious food. They feel happy to be safe. The witch tells them not to worry and sets up two fine beds for them. Hansel and Gretel think of it as a heavenly pleasure.
Why did Gretel kill the witch?
Answer:
Gretel is the younger sister of Hansel. After wandering for three days in the dense forest, both of them became too tired and hungry. Later on, they were guided by a beautiful white bird to the house made of sweets. They were warmly welcomed by the witch on the very first evening. The next day, the witch started torturing them. Gretel felt it was a nuisance to see herself and her brother’s states. She got extremely irritated by the witch’s behaviour. She wanted the freedom to breathe the fresh air. Thus, by being tactful, Gretel killed the witch to get rid of her imprisonment.
How did Hansel and Gretel free themselves from the witch?
Answer:
Hansel and Gretel were imprisoned by the witch the following day. They were unable to read the bad intentions of the witch on the first night. They were trapped by the witch. The witch put Hansel in the cage to fatten him, whereas Gretel was compelled to do housework. She wanted to eat them. Every day, she checked Hansel, but finally, she got impatient. She ordered Gretel to check the oven to see if it was hot or not. Gretel showed her cleverness and asked her to show once how to look into an oven. When the wicked witch moved near the oven, Gretel gave her a hard push and locked her inside the hot oven. The witch died there. In this way, Hansel and Gretel freed themselves from the trap of the witch with the help of their tricky acts.
What role do the birds have in the story ‘Hansel and Gretel’? What do they symbolize?
Answer:
In the story of ‘Hansel and Gretel', the birds play various roles according to situation and time. The whole length of the story depends on the birds’ roles. Birds have created both good and bad circumstances for the kids. Due to birds, the story gets the turning point, and it extends from one level to another. Birds created lots of difficulties for the kids the second time they were left in the dense forest. Birds have eaten the bread crumbs and created problems for the kids. The white bird showed them the way to the gingerbread house while they were hungry. In the final scene, the duck has helped them cross the river. It shows that birds have both good and bad roles. They symbolise both love and danger in the text. They have also helped to indulge the kids in dangerous situations.
Briefly narrate the story of Hansel and Gretel.
Answer:
(See answer Summary)
Describe Hansel.
Answer:
Hansel is the son of a poor woodcutter. He is such a courageous boy. He doesn’t lose his patience. In a very difficult situation, he makes use of his mind. He returns home safely, along with his sister, on their first day. He tries to persuade his sister not to worry each time. On the second left, he follows the white bird and finds the witch's house. Along with his sister Gretel, he kills the witch and carries lots of gold back home. In this story, Hansel shows his boldness in a difficult situation and overcomes it.
(Or) - Why do the parents in Hansel and Gretel decide to leave the children in the forest?
Answer:
Hansel and Gretel’s stepmother was such a cruel and unkind woman. She didn’t love them and wanted to get rid of them. She felt them as a burden. Once, food was scarce in the region, so their father was unable to provide food to the children. In that difficult situation, the stepmother made a plan to leave the kids in the dense forest so that she could live easily along with her husband.
How did the witch behave with the children and what was her aim?
Answer:
On the first night, the witch behaved so kindly with the children. She served them delicious food to eat. But the next day, she showed her real intention. She talked roughly as well as threatened them. She put Hansel into the cage and compelled Gretel to do housework. She aimed to eat both her sister and brother.
What happened to the children after they were left in the forest for the second time?
Answer:
After they were left in the forest for the second time, they had various difficulties. Hansel dropped bread crumbs on the road for the second time. When he followed the road, the bread crumbs were not there. They missed the road. They had no idea where to go or what to do next. They felt tired and fell asleep under the big tree. They were lost in the forest for three days. While they were sitting under a tree, they heard the melodious song of a beautiful white bird. After following that beautiful bird, they reached a fine house made of cake, bread, and sugar. They met an old woman who treated them well on the first night. The next morning, she trapped Hansel and threatened Gretel. By trick, both brother and sister got rid of the witch. They came back home with lots of jewels.
What do the bird and the expanse of the water in the fairy tale ‘Hansel and Gretel’?
Answer:
In the fairy tale of Hansel and Gretel, the bird symbolises both difficulties and kind power. At first, birds made them lose their way back home. The next birds also help Hansel and Gretel in the difficult situation. The bird takes them to the gingerbread house and also helps to cross the river. Duck takes them to a safer place. Similarly, the expanse of water symbolises the obstacles for the children, which create difficulty for them to reach their home. To cross that expanse of water with the help of a duck shows the development of maturity as well as prosperity for the children.
Describe the house Hansel and Gretel found in the forest.
Answer:
The house Hansel and Gretel found in the forest was a beautiful house made of sweet items like bread, cake, and sugar. The roof of that house was made of bread, and the window was made of sugar. The house was situated in the middle of the forest and stood as a symbol of a mother who was ready to feed the hungry children.
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