http://www.supershowrooms.com/bedtime-stories-children-online/
What are the original stories behind fairy tales, bedtime stories and nursery rhymes?
I really find the stories behind the Disney versions and classic rhymes and children’s books interesting, even if most of them are pretty dark! For example, I was told that at the end of the “real” story of The Little Mermaid, the mermaid gains a soul but turns into foam.
What stories do you know? If you have links to online sources that feature them, please use as a source! Thank you!
“Pop Goes the Weasel” dates back to the Black Plague, because the pustules would pop…yeah, that’s actually a really gross song.
In “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” pretty much nothing is the same as in the Disney movie. Quasimodo is obsessed with Claude Frollo, because he’s like a father to him. He has no desire to go out into the real world. And at the end, Claude Frollo and Esmeralda both die.
Also, it’s not true that The Little Mermaid turns into foam. That was what the Sea-witch told her would happen, but she actually turned into an air-fairy. There also was no three-day deadline – she had as long as she wanted, but she had to marry the prince, not kiss him. (http://hca.gilead.org.il/li_merma.html)
Snow White is actually pretty similar, but first the queen tries to suffocate her by lacing her too tight into a corset, and then she tries to kill her with a poisoned comb, before finally resorting to an apple.
(http://www.familymanagement.com/literacy/grimms/grimms42.html)
With Cinderella, of course there’s not talking mice, but in order to go the ball Cinderella has to pick pans of lentils out of ashes, but birds do help her. A bird brings her a dress, and there was no midnight deadline. (http://www.familymanagement.com/literacy/grimms/grimms16.html)
In Aladdin, he does get trapped in the cave because a sorcerer double-crosses him, but he rubs a magic ring to get out. When he gets home, he rubs the lamp and a much more powerful djinni appears. He wishes himself riches and marries a princess. Nowhere does the djinni wish for freedom. The sorcerer comes back and convinces Aladdin’s wife to trade ‘new lamps for old’.
(http://www.wollamshram.ca/1001/Payne/aladdin/p13_index.htm)
Hope this helps!
“Piggis Go To Paris – Part II” – Children’s Stories Online
