Little Briar Rose is a classic fairytale written by Grimm Brothers, German folklore writers and cultural researchers. The story is originally known as a Sleeping Beauty and it is identical with Charles Perrault’s literary tale (David & Meek, 1974). Charles Perrault’s version of the story is represented in a lighter and simpler vein. In contrast, The Grimm Brothers tell the story with genuine simplicity and complete seriousness.
They truly believe that Briar Roes should be endowed with beauty riches and virtue and, therefore, their heroine is a perfect girl whereas Perrault’s description of the Beauty is more complicated because the writer demonstrates the princess’s abilities to dance, sing, and play music instruments, which was peculiar of that period.
The story was represented at the beginning of the eighteen century, the time when the traditions and societal values were of paramount importance and, therefore, the ideal of a person is the one endowed with all those virtues and gifts.
The sleeping beauty themes take their roots in the prose romance called Perceforest retelling the story of Troilus and Zellandine (Zipes, 2002). The story dates back to the fist half of the sixteenth century and provided a basis for delivering fairy tales by the Grimm.
Hence, the story centers around a beautiful girl encaged in a tower and invaded by a prince who impregnates her with a child. While tracing the origin and motives in the story, the Sleeping Beauty takes roots from French prose. Therefore, German version of a fairytale also supports cultural traditions of folklore writing in Europe in the eighteenth century.
At the same, the story presents many German places, specifically the castle in which the princess was closed – Sababurg (Johnson and Iba, 2006, p. 115). Therefore, much of the descriptions in the tale are close to realistic locations.
The Grimm Brothers’ Little Briar Rose, also known as Sleeping Beauty centers on the main girl, a princess who is cursed with one of Wise Woman wishing to take revenge on the King and Queen because of not been invited to the celebration (Grimm & Grimm, n. d.). As the princess grew up, she eventually visits the tower when she meets the woman spinning.
The heroine touches the spindle and falls asleep until she is awaken by a handsome princes by kissing her into lips. The traditional plot is often developed in many other tales, but the story remains the same.
There are always several obligatory components for building the plot – the kingdom, the princess, the curse, and the prince who saves the princess. The Grimm Brothers try to fit the fairytale to the social conditions they were living in, as well as the German traditions of storytelling.
In conclusion, Little Briar Rose is a German version of a classical fairytale written by the Grimm Brothers. Originally known as Sleeping Beauty, the story depicts magical and romance themes to fit in the social environment of the eighteenth century.
It also focuses on the eternal confrontation of the good and the evil. The story originates from the prose romance written in the early sixteenth century, but the plotline was changed. The Grimm version of the story is much more logical and serious because it represents genuine human values and virtues. The authors strive to render the characteristics of the society as well as introduce some national elements to the story.
References
David, A., & Meek, M. E. (1974). The Twelve Dancing Princesses, and other Fairy Tales. US: Indiana University Press.
Grimm, A., & Grimm, W. (n. d.) Grimm’s Fairy Tales. US: Hayes Barton Pres.
Johnson, T. L., & Iba, E. M. (2006). German Fairy Tale Landscape: The Storied World of the Brothers Grimm. US: Michael Iba.
Zipes, J. D. (2002). The Brothers Grimm: From Enchanted Forests to the Modern World. US: Palgrave McMillan.