The main characteristics include their dark and often moralistic nature. They were based on folk tales and carried lessons about good and evil. For example, in 'Hansel and Gretel', the children's encounter with the witch shows the danger of greed and naivete. The stories also had vivid descriptions of characters and settings that were typical of the time and place they originated from.
One of the most famous is 'Snow White'. In the original, it was much darker. For example, the queen not only wanted to kill Snow White out of jealousy but also tried in more cruel ways. Another well - known one is 'Hansel and Gretel' where the children are left in the forest by their parents, and they encounter a witch who wants to eat them. And 'Rapunzel' is also very popular, with the long - haired girl locked in a tower.
The Brothers Grimm collected the stories by traveling around Germany and listening to people. They were interested in the oral traditions of the common folk. They would visit villages and small towns, and sit with the locals to hear their tales. They were careful to note down not just the stories but also the way they were told, with all the unique expressions and dialects. This way, they managed to compile a large collection of real folk stories that became known as the Brothers Grimm stories.
Well, first of all, the Grimm Brothers' original stories introduced the idea of a shared cultural heritage through storytelling. This has influenced modern literature to look at the past for inspiration. Their use of repetition, a common technique in oral storytelling, can be seen in some modern works. And the Grimm stories' ability to create a sense of wonder and mystery has been carried over. For instance, modern horror and fantasy literature often tries to recreate that same feeling of the unknown that the Grimm stories had. Also, their stories have been adapted so many times that they have set a precedent for how fairy tales can be reimagined in different literary forms.
The original Brothers Grimm story of Snow White is a classic fairy tale. It tells the tale of a beautiful princess who is hated by her evil stepmother and eventually finds refuge with the seven dwarfs.
They provided a rich source of archetypal characters and themes. For example, the idea of the damsel in distress like Snow White has been reused and reimagined in countless modern stories. The dark elements in these stories, such as the evil stepmothers, also became common tropes.