Hansel and Gretel | Stories and Fairy Tales | A Story

Summary

Hansel and Gretel, abandoned by their cruel stepmother in the forest, use their wits to survive. After finding a house made of candy, they are captured by a witch who plans to eat them. With clever tricks, the siblings escape, defeat the witch, and find treasure. Returning home, they reunite with their father, who is overjoyed and regretful. Together, they live happily ever after, with their newfound wealth solving their family's struggles.

Takeaways

• 🏡 Hansel and Gretel lived with their father in a small hut in the forest after their mother passed away.
• 👩‍🦳 Their father remarried a wealthy woman who disliked the children and wanted them gone due to poverty.
• ❄️ The stepmother convinced their father to abandon Hansel and Gretel in the forest during winter.
• 🪨 Hansel cleverly collected pebbles to create a trail back home, allowing them to safely return the first time.
• 🍞 On the second attempt, Hansel used breadcrumbs to mark the trail, but birds ate them, leaving the children lost.
• 🐦 Hansel and Gretel followed a bird that led them to a magical house made of bread, cake, and candy.
• 🧙‍♀️ The seemingly kind old lady in the house was actually a witch who trapped Hansel and planned to eat him.
• 👧 Hansel tricked the witch by not eating, and Gretel cleverly pushed the witch into the oven, freeing Hansel.
• -
• 🔥 The children escaped the burning witch's house and crossed a river with the help of a giant swan.
• -
• 💎 Hansel and Gretel returned home with treasures from the witch's house, their stepmother gone, and lived happily with their father.

Q & A

Who are the main characters in the story?

The main characters are Hansel and Gretel, a brother and sister, their father, and their stepmother who dislikes them.

Why did Hansel and Gretel's stepmother want to get rid of them?

She hated that they were poor and lived in a small hut, and she feared that they would starve during the winter if the children stayed.

How did Hansel try to ensure they could find their way back home the first time they were abandoned in the forest?

Hansel collected pebbles at night and dropped them along the path to create a trail that reflected moonlight, guiding them back home.

Why did Hansel's breadcrumb trail fail the second time they were abandoned?

The breadcrumbs were eaten by birds, leaving Hansel and Gretel unable to find their way back home.

How did Hansel and Gretel discover the witch's house?

After wandering in the forest for three days, a bird led them to a house made of bread, cake, and candy.

What was deceptive about the witch's house?

Although it looked inviting and delicious from the outside, the inside was dark, scary, and dangerous, hiding the evil witch.

How did Hansel trick the witch while he was imprisoned?

Hansel pretended to eat the food but instead buried it in a hole he dug, so he remained thin and tricked the witch into thinking he was not ready to eat.

How did Gretel defeat the witch?

When the witch asked her to check the oven, Gretel cleverly pushed the witch inside and closed the door, killing her.

How did Hansel and Gretel return home after escaping the witch?

After fleeing the burning house, a giant swan carried them across a river, helping them find their way back home.

What happened to their stepmother after the children returned home?

The stepmother had gone back to her parents' house and never returned to harm the children again.

How did the children reward their father after their adventure?

Hansel and Gretel brought gold and diamonds from the witch's house, which amazed their father and resolved their family's financial problems.

What is the moral of the Hansel and Gretel story as presented in this transcript?

The story teaches cleverness, bravery, and resilience in the face of danger, as well as the importance of family and forgiveness.