![\"Hansel](\"https:\/\/farm4.staticflickr.com\/3641\/3449572363_bb2c2c1ec0.jpg\")
<\/a>A depiction of a scene from Hansel und Gretel. Foto: perpetualplum on flickr.com under a CC license (CC by 2.0)<\/p><\/div>\n
Most people will have heard of die Br\u00fcder Grimm<\/strong> (the Brothers Grimm) and their M\u00e4rchen<\/strong> (fairy tales). Perhaps you\u2019ll have read a few of them, or seen the Disney adaptations of these gruesome stories. But who exactly were these famous German brothers, and what is it like reading their fairy tales in German?<\/p>\n Jakob and Wilhelm Grimm, often referred to as die Br\u00fcder Grimm, were German academics, linguists and authors from the 19th<\/sup> Century, who re-popularised folk tales including Cinderella, Snow White and The Frog Prince. The original collection of folk tales was called Kinder und Hausm\u00e4rchen<\/strong> (Children\u2019s And Household Tales). They are also the authors of the Deutsches W\u00f6rterbuch<\/strong> \u2013 the largest, most comprehensive German language dictionary there is!<\/p>\n Some of the German titles of the M\u00e4rchen include:<\/p>\n Cinderella – Aschenputtel <\/strong> A friend of mine recently gave me a (German) copy of Grimms M\u00e4rchen<\/strong>, and reading it took me back to my childhood, as adaptations of these grisly stories were often on German TV (daytime\/children’s TV!). There has always been some controversy surrounding Grimm\u2019s fairy tales, with people saying they aren\u2019t suitable for children because they\u2019re too scary and violent. In fact, when they were first published, these tales were intended for adults, not children! But there have been many versions published over the years \u2013 some \u2018scarier\u2019 than others.<\/p>\n To demonstrate how different the Grimm stories are to the Disney adaptations, here is the last sentence or two of Rumpelstilzchen, Schneewittchen<\/strong> and Aschenputtel<\/strong> in my edition of the book (which is apparently very true to the originals): The original ending to Rumpelstilzchen by Wilhelm & Jacob Grimm. Own photo.<\/p><\/div>\n ‘The devil said that, the devil said that’ the little man screamed, and in a violent rage he stamped his right foot so deep into the earth that it went in right up to his belly. Then, in his anger, he grabbed his left foot with both hands and ripped himself in half.’<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Schneewittchen (Snow White):<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n The original ending to Schneewittchen by Wilhelm & Jacob Grimm. Own photo.<\/p><\/div>\n ‘And when she [the wicked Queen] entered she recognised Snow White, and couldn’t move for fear and shock. But there were iron-clad slippers readily placed over a coal fire, and these were brought in with tongs and placed in front of her. She had to put on the burning-hot shoes and dance in them until she fell down dead.’<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Aschenputtel (Cinderella):<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The original ending to Aschenputtel by Wilhelm & Jacob Grimm. Own photo.<\/p><\/div>\n ‘The doves pecked out one of each of their [the wicked sisters’] eyes. Afterwards, when they went outside, the older sister was on the left and the younger sister on rhe right: The doves pecked out their other eyes. And so they were punished for their wickedness and deceitfulness with eternal blindness.’<\/p>\n <\/p>\n What do you think – too scary for kids? They’re just a little different from the ‘Prince saves the day and they all live happily ever after’ endings we all know and love! Do you prefer these or the Disney versions? \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n <\/p>\n If you\u2019d like to have a go at reading Grimms M\u00e4rchen<\/strong> in German, here are some links that will help you do just that:<\/p>\n Grimmstories.com<\/a><\/strong> \u2013 Grimm stories in German, English, and a whole host of other languages!<\/p>\n
\nHansel and Gretel \u2013 Hansel und Gretel<\/strong>
\nRapunzel \u2013 Rapunzel<\/strong>
\nRumpelstiltskin \u2013 Rumpelstilzchen<\/strong>
\nSleeping Beauty \u2013 Donr\u00f6schen<\/strong>
\nSnow White \u2013 Schneewittchen\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nRumpelstilzchen (Rumpelstilzkin):<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n![\"just](\"https:\/\/farm2.staticflickr.com\/1578\/24709098776_f23aa19b66.jpg\")
![\"just](\"https:\/\/farm2.staticflickr.com\/1683\/24108456053_e1e7c35e22.jpg\")
![\"just](\"https:\/\/farm2.staticflickr.com\/1447\/24735309825_8ee4417b1a.jpg\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2016\/03\/3449572363_bb2c2c1ec0-350x339.jpg\")