The document summarizes the fairy tale "The Donkey" by the Brothers Grimm. It provides background on how Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm collected and published many popular fairy tales in 1812. The story is about a donkey born to a king and queen who is able to transform into a prince through magical means and marries the princess. The summary raises questions about appropriateness for children due to some story elements and whether censorship is truly beneficial.
2. Who are the Brothers Grimm?
Disregard the popular Jacob and Wilhelm studied law at the
University of Marburg during the time
2005 movie… of the Romantic Movement in
They were not con artists! Germany, when people wanted to
explore the history of their homeland.
Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm lived from
1785-1863, and wrote or compiled The Brothers Grimm set out to record
many popular fairy tales. Over a old stories told by peasants and nobility
hundred are listed in their book from towns across Germany, and after
Children’s and Household Tales, adding a few of their own and making
including the one discussed today, “The minor adjustments, (to be more child-
Donkey” or “The Little Donkey.” friendly) they published Children’s and
Household Tales in 1812.
3. What Did They Write?
Most Famous Stories:
• Little Red Riding Hood
• Sleeping Beauty
• Hansel and Gretel
• Rapunzel
• Cinderella
• Snow White
• Rumpelstiltskin
• And now…
the Donkey!
4. Our Story Continues…
Long, long ago, in a The Donkey wanted to
kingdom far away explore the world -
A kind, loving king and his wife had He left the kingdom in search of
no children, no heir to the throne. true love, and on the way, learned
They prayed and prayed for a son, how to play the flute – a difficult
and then the wife got pregnant! task for a hoof-footed being. He
Unfortunately, when the son was wandered to a castle in a distant
born, he was a donkey. land and, cold and hungry, asked to
HOW DID THAT HAPPEN? be let in the door. When they
The king and queen loved their son refused, he played the flute so
nevertheless, and raised him to be a beautifully they asked him to be
proper young m- donkey. their entertainer.
5. And Then…
The Donkey was still
very lonely.
After sitting with the king (and his
beautiful daughter, wink wink) for
years, the young donkey knew it was
time to return home. Sad, he told the
king he must leave.
“What can I give you to stay?” the
king asked. He offered gold, his
kingdom, and then his daughter. The
donkey took him up on the offer…
duh!
6. Happily Ever After?
The Donkey and the The servant reports to the
Princess must consummate king what he saw.
their marriage? The king, in disbelief, hides in the
The King wanted to know that he didn’t bedroom the next night. When the
break his daughter’s heart by giving her young man and the princess were
to a donkey. He told his servant to hide asleep, he burned the donkey skin
in the princess’s bedroom and watch so the prince must show who he
what happens. When the donkey enters really is. The kingdom rejoices,
– he steps out of his donkey skin and is then a year later the king dies, the
transformed into a beautiful young prince and the princess become
prince! He and the princess… well, heirs to two kingdoms, and they live
you know… happily ever after.
7. What About Our Children?
Is this story appropriate for
children today?
It’s a classic fairy tale:
a “beast,” an ugly creature, is able
to live happily ever after with a
beautiful princess.
But what about the ending? What
about the bedroom scene? It
would have to be dumbed-down
or simply changed for most young
children.
8. The Brothers Grimm
It’s interesting, however, that Are our children better off
Jacob and Wilhelm were by being sheltered by
making the stories more child-
censored children’s
appropriate… for their time.
stories?
www.notablebiographies.com Or are they, in fact,
credits Wilhelm Grimm with sheltered?
“putting [the tales] into written
form and giving them a
pleasant, childlike style.”
9. And That’s Where
I Leave You
…with ethical issues to ponder…
How will you handle
your children?
