Hansel and Gretel
The story of Hansel and Gretel, the two children who get lost in the woods, is widely known and widely loved by children. As with many fairy tales, it was made famous by the Brothers Grimm when they included it in their 1812 collection of short stories for youngsters. But it’s likely the German authors took their inspiration from another – much darker – story that had been used to warn kids of the dangers of going alone into the forests for centuries before.
In the much-loved tale, as told by the Brothers Grimm and countless parents since them, Hansel and Gretel are the children of an impoverished woodcutter and his cruel wife. Their mother decides to cast them out, leaving the young brother and sister to wander the forests. Then, one day, they come across a cottage and decide to seek help. But far from being the home of a kindly soul, the gingerbread house belongs to an evil witch who enjoys nothing more than killing and eating children.
In the later versions, Hansel and Gretel get wise to the witch’s plan and, after some time as captives, manage to escape. But other versions aren’t so cheerful. Indeed, in the French version many believe the modern tale is based on, the pair actually end up stumbling across the devil himself. And he is far smarter than the witch. He captures the children as they try to escape and then builds a sawhorse to execute them on. In a sick twist, the brother and sister pretend not to know how they can get on the sawhorse, so the devil’s wife offers to demonstrate. When she’s on there, the youngsters use the saw to slash her throat and then escape to their freedom.