Hansel and Gretel | Stories for Teenagers | @EnglishFairyTales

Summary

In this retelling of the classic tale, Hansel and Gretel are abandoned by their cold-hearted stepmother in the forest due to a famine. Using cleverness and courage, they survive by marking a trail with pebbles, but later face a witch who plans to eat Hansel. With Gretel’s quick thinking, they escape, return home with treasure, and help rebuild their lives. The story highlights themes of survival, love, redemption, and family unity, teaching that even in dark times, cleverness and the bonds of family can guide the way.

Takeaways

• 😀 A humble woodcutter lives with his two children, Hansel and Gretel, and his cold-hearted wife at the edge of a forest.
• 😀 The stepmother takes advantage of a severe famine to plot the abandonment of Hansel and Gretel in the forest.
• 😀 Hansel uses pebbles to mark a trail when they are first abandoned, ensuring they can find their way back home.
• 😀 After the second abandonment, Hansel uses breadcrumbs to mark their path, but they are eaten by animals, leaving the children lost.
• 😀 The children discover a house made of candy, which belongs to a wicked witch who plans to fatten up Hansel and eat him.
• 😀 The witch captures Hansel and forces Gretel to work while plotting to eat him once he's fattened up.
• 😀 Gretel remembers her mother’s advice and stays calm, using cleverness to eventually trap the witch in her own oven.
• 😀 The children escape with treasure from the witch's house, eventually returning to their father.
• 😀 The stepmother regrets her actions and apologizes, recognizing her mistakes.
• 😀 The family uses the treasure to help others in need, and they rebuild their lives through love, unity, and clever thinking.

Q & A

Why does the stepmother decide to get rid of Hansel and Gretel?

The stepmother's decision to get rid of Hansel and Gretel stems from a combination of greed and cold-heartedness. With the village suffering from a devastating famine, she sees the children as a burden and wants to eliminate them to ease her own struggle for food.

How does Hansel manage to leave a trail in the forest during the first attempt?

Hansel uses pebbles he collects along the way to leave a trail in the forest. Every few feet, he drops a pebble, ensuring that he and Gretel can find their way back home when the time comes.

What happens when Hansel tries to leave a breadcrumb trail during the second attempt?

Hansel attempts to leave a breadcrumb trail by crumbling the bread their mother gives them, but the birds and animals of the forest eat all the crumbs, leaving the children lost and unable to find their way back home.

How do Hansel and Gretel end up at the witch's house?

After wandering in the forest for days without food, Hansel and Gretel follow a bird, which leads them to the witch's house made of cake, chocolate, and candy. Their hunger and wonder cause them to forget the dangers of the situation.

What is the witch's plan for Hansel and Gretel once they enter her house?

The witch plans to fatten Hansel up to eat him, as she believes that children are a delicacy. She locks him in a cage and forces Gretel to do chores while ensuring Hansel eats well to become plump for her feast.

How do Hansel and Gretel manage to escape from the witch's house?

Gretel cleverly tricks the witch by pretending not to know how to check the oven's heat. When the witch leans in to check, Gretel pushes her into the oven, trapping her and saving themselves.

What do Hansel and Gretel do with the treasure they find in the witch's house?

Hansel and Gretel bring the treasure back to their parents. The woodcutter uses some of it to ensure the family will never go hungry again, while the rest is shared with the villagers to help those suffering from the famine.

How does the woodcutter react when Hansel and Gretel return home?

The woodcutter is overjoyed and deeply remorseful when Hansel and Gretel return. He apologizes for his past actions and expresses regret for abandoning them, realizing how important his family is.

What lesson does the family learn by the end of the story?

By the end of the story, the family learns that love, kindness, unity, and clever thinking are the true treasures that bring them happiness, rather than material wealth.

How does the family rebuild their life after the events in the forest?

The family rebuilds their life by using the treasure they found to ensure they are never hungry again, and they share it with others who are struggling. They work together, strengthening their bond and helping the community, learning the value of love and cooperation.