Hansel And Gretel, A Tale Of All Ages
There are stories that transcend and resist the passage of time. One of them and well known is that of Hansel and Gretel, a story highly valued in the field of children’s literature, especially for its enormous contribution and learning about values.
Hansel and Gretel is a classic story that originates from Germany and was compiled by the Brothers Grimm. They were in charge of making a version in a softer and more subtle tone than the original story, dedicated especially to children.
Hansel and Gretel: brief summary of the story
The story goes that a woodcutter lived in the forest with his wife and two children. Their reality was very harsh, since they had nothing to eat. One day, Hansel and Gretel decide to leave their home in search of some food. When they find out and want to return, they are lost in the middle of the forest.
They walked and walked until they found another clearing, where there was a small house made of cookies and candies. They were so hungry that they ran to her and started eating.
Suddenly, an old woman came out and, with a very kind smile, invited them inside. Hansel and Gretel ate until they could no longer; the old woman made their beds and tucked them in. Actually, this old woman who looked so good, was an evil witch. Clearly, his plans were different.
The witch wanted the children to work for her. Gretel was in charge of cooking and cleaning, while Hansel would be the one who would pull the cart. However, as he was very skinny and weak, he decided to lock him in a cage and fatten him.
One day, the witch got tired of waiting for Hansel to get fat and decided to take him out. Despite his condition, he tied him to the car in the same way. It was that day that Hansel and Gretel realized it was time to escape.
Since it was bread-making day, the witch had ordered Gretel to heat the oven well. The girl knew that if the witches inhaled linden smoke they would disappear, so she asked the witch to look out to see if she was okay.
When the oven was opened, a mouthful of smoke came out and the witch was reduced to ashes. Before escaping, the children carried food for the trip and found a great surprise: chests of gold and silver.
The little ones escaped and, when they reached the lake, a huge white swan offered to cross them, and there was their father. Excited, they all returned home and were happy together.
The stories and the values
Stories are one of the most effective and entertaining to transmit and teach media values s the smallest. Both classic tales and more modern stories contain a moral that, in most cases, corresponds to a real life situation that children will face at some point.
Teachings of Hansel and Gretel, a story like no other
The story of Hansel and Gretel mainly talks about the relationship between two brothers who collaborate with each other and think of a strategy to save themselves from a bad situation.
These brothers demonstrate to the world and to themselves that, with the joint effort of the two, they managed to overcome and emerge victorious from that problem. In other words, the importance of unity to overcome obstacles is ratified.
Another moral that the story of Hansel and Gretel is known for has to do with not always trusting appearances, which are often deceiving. How someone looks has nothing to do with their wit, cunning, or ability; not everything that seems good at first glance is, as is the case with the witch.
In addition, there is the fact of always being grateful for the food, the home and, above all, the family and the love between its members, something so important for well-being. Likewise, the support provided in situations where lives are at risk or when facing a crisis is underlined.
In conclusion, Hansel and Gretel is a story that is really worth including among children’s stories. Not only is it engaging in its own right, but it helps to think and learn about some of the issues in everyday life that children will surely have to deal with.
