I read Rapunzel written by the Brothers Grimm. This fairytale is about husband and wife who were expecting a child. There was an evil enchantress who lived near them and was feared by all. In this enchantress' garden, she grew rampion which the pregnant woman greatly craved. Her husband stole the rampion for her and she ate it and craved more. When the husband went back to steal more for his wife, the enchantress caught him and warned him that he would indeed pay. She told the husband that if he didn't give to her his child after it was born, that he couldn't have anymore rampion. Out of fear, the husband agreed. When the wife gave birth to a baby girl, the enchantress came, named the baby Rapunzel, and took the baby with her. She raised Rapunzel and when she was twelve years old, she locked Rapunzel away in a tower in the middle of a forrest. The tower had no stairs or way out. When the enchantress wanted to see Rapunzel, she would go to the tower and ask Rapunzel to let down her hair and would climb up her hair into the tower. Rapunzel was often lonely in her tower and would sing to herself to pass time. The king's son liked to ride his horse around this area and one day he heard her voice and longed to meet her. The king's son saw Rapunzel let her hair down for the enchantress and saw the enchantress climb up her hair into the tower and wanted to try this himself. He approached the tower and asked Rapunzel to let down her hair and so she did. He climbed up her hair and into the tower. At first Rapunzel was frightened of him, but eventually grew fond of him and they decided to marry. The enchantress found out about their plan and chopped Rapunzel's hair off and took her off into the desert. The king's son came to take Rapunzel away and when he asked Rapunzel to let down her hair, she did and he climbed into the tower only to find the enchantress. He was so frightened that he jumped down from the tower and ended up piercing his eyes with thorns. He became blind. He wandered around the forrest blind for years and eventually came to the desert where Rapunzel lived. He heard her voice and they came to find each other. Rapunzel cried and as soon as her tears touched his eyes, he could see again. They became married and lived happily ever after.
I think an edited or censored version of this book would be okay to read in the classroom. The original version of this book is a bit graphic and inappropriate for younger children. Most likely though I probably wouldn't read this story to my students.
Subject: Love, bravery
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