The "dark" side of fairy tales

The famous Grimm brothers

Once upon a time there was a monster that...

It’s no secret I like stories that are kind of spooky—one of my favourite authors is R.L. Stine, who writes the Fear Street and Goosebumps series. So when my Language Arts teacher, Mrs. Kratky, told us to research fairy tales for Tell a Fairy Tale Day (February 26!) I was surprised—and excited—to learn that most classic fairy tales have a “dark side.”

I know what you’re thinking—every fairy tale ends with a happily-ever-after, right? Actually, in the beginning, they didn’t. Early fairy tales—like Snow White, Cinderella, etc.—weren’t even written for kids! Especially the stories written by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, the famous Grimm brothers.

Take Snow White, for instance. In the Grimm version of the tale, Snow White’s mother was the “wicked” one, and it wasn’t just her heart she wanted—it was her lungs and liver, too! Not quite the Disney version I’ve watched with my sister, Amelia over and over again. <groan>

It's probably not surprising then that the Grimm brothers were criticized for writing stories that even I, for one, would never read to my little sister. After all, no one wants a bedtime story that gives them nightmares…

Well, except me, maybe. <grin>

We're working on fairy tales in class today, and our stories are due on February 26, of course. Want to join in? Here is a great link that shows the basics of how to write a fairy tale. Hey! You should send me yours. I'd love to read them—and maybe publish them on my blog.

Gotta jet!

~ Chase Superman Duffy