Lesson Activity on Classic Literature by Jennifer Pongonis

Looking for a sweet, soothing tale to waft you toward dreamland? Look somewhere else. The stories collected by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm in the early 1800s serve up life as generations of central Europeans knew it— capricious and often cruel. The two brothers, patriots determined to preserve Germanic folktales, were only accidental entertainers.

 On the paper I handed out numbered one through four, I want you to listen to the following passages and try to match the tale they are originally from.  After we are finished I will collect the papers and whomever answers them all correct will receive a prize!!!!  Let’s begin…

 In this tale… A branch was placed on the mother’s grave and when the tears fell down on it and watered it the branch grew to be a magnificent tree. A little white bird sat on the tree and threw wishes such as gold and silver down whenever that person asked. Quote from tale “Cut the toe off; when thou art Queen thou wilt have no more need to go on foot.” The maiden cut the toe off… At the wedding the girls had their eyes pecked out by pigeons for their wickedness and falsehood.

 In this tale… The husband traded his first born for an herb called rampion so his wife would be happy.  Quote: “Bring with thee a skein of silk every time that thou comest, and I will weave a ladder…”  The main character was ordered to live in a desert in great grief and misery  A man escaped with his life, but thorns pierced his eyes and made him blind.

 Witches have red eyes, and cannot see far, but they have a keen scent like the beasts, and are aware when human beings draw near.  When a child fell into her power, she killed it, cooked and ate it, and that was a feast day with her.  A character in this tale was burnt miserably to death.  A character stole pearls and stones so they would no longer live in poverty.

 The cook had to salt the young bear’s heart and the Queen ate it, and thought she had eaten _______ heart.  She combed her hair with the beautiful poisoned comb and immediately fell down.  He desired the coffin so much that he had his servants carry it on their shoulders. And it happened that they stumbled over a tree-stump, and with the shock the poisonous______ fell out of her throat.  At the wedding celebration iron slippers had already been put upon the fire, and they were brought in with tongs, and set before her. Then she was forced to put on the red-hot shoes, and dance until she dropped down dead.

 1. Cinderella  2. Rapunzel  3. Hansel and Gretel  4. Little Snow White All of which are the ORIGINAL Grimm Fairy Tales!