Snow White

Snow White 
Grimm Brothers

Double Day
New York
1977

This story begins with a step-mother who is jealous of her beautiful step-daughter. She asks her magic mirror who the fairest in the land is and it always says that Snow White is. The step mother wants to be the fairest and decides she must kill Snow White. Snow White must escape various attempts. She lives with seven dwarfs but she must cook and clean for them; she gladly accepts this offer. The stepmother is mad when she finds out Snow White is still alive and attempts to kills her  with a necklace, hair clips, and an apple. On the first two attempts the dwarfs arrive in time to save Snow White, but when presented with the apple Snow White meets her fate. Snow White's body is laid to rest in a glass casket so the dwarfs can mourn her beauty. The dwarfs are confronted by a prince while they move her body. The prince is immediately taken by Snow White's beauty and convinces the dwarfs to give him Snow White's body. When the casket is shaken  the apple is dislodged from Snow White's throat and she wakes up. The prince and Snow White fall in love. The wicked step mother attends their wedding and is forced to dance in heated, iron slippers until she dies. 

Noteworthy Features:

• A different version of a story many students may know because of Disney

Some students may enjoy reading this because they are familiar with the Disney version. However, teachers need to be careful when reading this story with students because it is very gruesome and much different from what students think of when they think of Snow White. I personally would probably not read this with students because of the gruesome nature, but teachers can read this at their own discretion. 

Classroom Activities:

• Watch Disney version and compare and contrast the two stories