ATU 327

“The Witch.” The Yellow Fairy Book, edited by Andrew Lang, London, New York, Bombay: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1906, pp. 216-221.

Anonymous — Mon, 17 Jun 2024 19:05:10 +0000

“The Witch.” The Yellow Fairy Book, edited by Andrew Lang, London, New York, Bombay: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1906, pp. 216-221. Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 06/17/2024 - 13:05

Tale Summary

Once upon a time there was a set of twins, a boy and a girl, whose father remarried after their mother’s death and had several more children. The stepmother was cruel and decided to send them to a wicked witch in the woods, telling them it was her granny. The children stopped at their own grandmother’s house on the way and told her where they were headed and she advised them to be civil and pleasant, and sent them along with a bottle of milk, a piece of ham, and a loaf of bread. The witch took them as servants and gave the boy a sieve to carry water from the well, sat the girl down to spin yarn, and told them that she would fry them in the oven if they failed, and then she went into the woods. When the girl cried because she did not know how to spin, hundreds of mice asked her for bread in exchange for help. She gave this to them, and they said that the witch had a cat who would show her a way out of the forest in exchange for ham, and that in the meantime they would spin for her. She went out to her brother, who was also crying, when a flight of wrens asked for the same as the mice and advised the boy to fill the sieve’s holes with clay. After bringing the water back to the house, they fed the cat ham and were given a comb and a handkerchief to throw behind them when they made their escape. The next day the witch gave them more tasks, but as soon as she left they ran away as fast as they could. They met the guard dog, who let them pass when they gave him some bread, and then dangerously unkempt birch branches, which they tied up with a ribbon, and made it to the open fields. When the witch realized they were escaping, she asked the cat, the dog, and the trees why they did not stop the children, and got the answer that the children were kinder than she was. She hurried after the twins, and when they heard her approach they threw the handkerchief behind them and it became a deep river, which slowed her down. They then threw the comb, which became a dense forest, and she was forced to turn back. The two made it home and told their father all that had happened. He drove their stepmother away and lived happily with the children.

Fairy Tale Title

The Witch

Fairy Tale Author(s)/Editor(s)

Andrew Lang

Fairy Tale Illustrator(s)

Henry Justice Ford

Common Tale Type

The Children and the Ogre

Tale Classification

ATU 327

Page Range of Tale

pp. 216-221

Full Citation of Tale

“The Witch.” The Yellow Fairy Book, edited by Andrew Lang, London, New York, Bombay: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1906, pp. 216-221.

Original Source of the Tale

Tale Notes

Research and Curation

Kaeli Waggener, 2024

Book Title

The Yellow Fairy Book

Book Author/Editor(s)

Andrew Lang

Illustrator(s)

Henry Justice Ford

Publisher

Longmans, Green, and Co.

Date Published

1906

Decade Published

1900-1909

Publisher City

London
New York
Bombay

Publisher Country

United Kingdom
United States
India

Language

English

Rights

Public Domain

Digital Copy

Available at the Internet Archive

Book Notes

Though this book is written in prose with more difficult language than other books of fairy tales in the collection, the Preface says this book is written for children.

Traditional

White

“Tom Thumb.” Tales of Past Times Written for Children, Charles Perrault, illustrated by John Austen, New York: E.P Dutton and Co., 1923, pp. 53-63.

Anonymous — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 00:23:37 +0000

“Tom Thumb.” Tales of Past Times Written for Children, Charles Perrault, illustrated by John Austen, New York: E.P Dutton and Co., 1923, pp. 53-63. Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 11/17/2022 - 17:23

Charles Perrault

Tale Summary

Once upon a time, there was a poor man and his wife, wood makers by trade, who had seven young boys (the oldest being ten, and the younger being seven years of age). This youngest boy was very small, only being the size of a thumb when he was born (giving him the name Tom Thumb) but was very intelligent. One day during a famine, the man urges his wife that they must get rid of their children in order to survive. Although she protests, she agrees. Tom Thumb overhears this conversation, and the next morning gets up early and collects small white pebbles to fill his pockets. The man and his wife bring the children deep into the forest and abandon them. His siblings cry and fret, but Tom Thumb knows the way back because he has laid a trail of pebbles. The man and his wife, as soon as they get home, receive ten crowns from the lord of the manor which they were owed and were able to buy a large amount of meat to feast on. The woman begs her husband to repent for what they have done and laments for her lost children when they arrive at the door. Sometime later, the money runs out, and once again the man convinces his wife to abandon their children. Tom Thumb overhears this conversation, and the next morning goes out to again search for pebbles but finds that the door is locked. He thinks to use his breakfast instead to leave a trail of breadcrumbs. This does not work, however, as when the children try to find their way back, Tom Thumb realizes that the breadcrumbs have been all eaten by birds. So the children become lost and trek through the forest until they come to a house. A woman greets them, and the children tell her their plight. She weeps, because they are so pitiful and because her husband is an ogre who eats children. Because the children beg, the woman lets them in, thinking she can hide them for one night under the bed. When the ogre comes home he smells fresh meat, and although his wife tries to conceal them, the ogre finds them and decides to eat them the next day while entertaining his friends. Happy with this, he becomes drunk and goes to bed. The ogre has seven daughters, asleep in a bed, each with a golden crown upon her head. The woman puts the seven boys, each with a bonnet on their head, in a bed in the same room. Tom Thumb, fearing that the ogre would kill them as they slept, switched the crowns and bonnets. Sure enough, the drunk ogre comes in, feels for the bonnets, and kills all seven of his daughters. When he leaves again, the children make a run for it. The next day, the wife finds her seven daughters slaughtered, and the ogre swears to get the children, putting on his ‘boots of seven-leagues (which cover seven leagues with each stride), and running off. Tom Thumb hides his siblings under a rock, which the ogre sits on to take a rest and fall asleep on. The children run back to their parent’s house, while Tom Thumb stays and takes the boots, which, because they are fairies, fit themselves to his feet, and runs back to the ogre’s wife. He tells her that her husband has been captured by robbers and that they demand all of his riches in order to release him, so she gives him all that they have. Tom Thumb brings this money back to his parent’s house.

Fairy Tale Title

Thumbling

Fairy Tale Author(s)/Editor(s)

Charles Perrault

Fairy Tale Illustrator(s)

John Austen

Common Tale Type

The Children and the Ogre/Brothers and the Ogre/Boy Steals the Ogre's Treasure

Tale Classification

ATU 327/ATU 327B/ATU 328

Page Range of Tale

pp. 9-12

Full Citation of Tale

“Tom Thumb.” Tales of Past Times Written for Children, Charles Perrault, illustrated by John Austen, New York: E.P Dutton and Co., 1923, pp. 53-63.

Original Source of the Tale

Charles Perrault

Tale Notes

The story gives an alternate ending, which the author seems skeptical of, that Tom Thumb never robbed the ogre, and instead used the seven-league boots to bring news of a far-away army to the King, who in return gave him a large sum of money. He then becomes a famous messenger, amassing wealth, and buys places for his father and brothers at court.

Research and Curation

Kaeli Waggener, 2022

Book Title

Tales of Past Times Written for Children

Book Author/Editor(s)

Charles Perrault

Illustrator(s)

John Austen

Publisher

E.P Dutton and Co.

Date Published

1923

Decade Published

1920-1929

Publisher City

New York

Publisher Country

United States

Language

English

Rights

Public Domain

Digital Copy

Available at the CU Digital Library

Book Notes

Traditional

White

“Hop O’ my Thumb.” George Cruikshank’s Fairy Library, George Cruikshank, London: Routledge and Sons, [1870s], pp. 1-30.

Anonymous — Mon, 20 Dec 2021 17:14:08 +0000

“Hop O’ my Thumb.” George Cruikshank’s Fairy Library, George Cruikshank, London: Routledge and Sons, [1870s], pp. 1-30. Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 12/20/2021 - 10:14

George Cruikshank

Tale Summary

George Cruikshank participated in the Temperance movement, and like other tales in this volume (Cinderella), this version of Hop O’ My Thumb denounces the evils of “strong drink” (alcohol). He also omits the violent scene in which the Ogre kills his own children after being tricked by Hop into thinking they are the 6 brothers. The story begins with a Count who loses all his money by drinking and gambling and must turn to cutting wood in order to support his family. He and his wife the countess have six boys, the smallest one called Hop O My Thumb, or Little Hop. Although tiny, Hop is exceptionally intelligent, sweet, and strong. The count is unable to support his family because he continues to drink and smoke and soon plans to abandon the boys in the woods, rather than watch them starve. Hop overhears the plan and uses white pebbles to mark the way so that the boys are able to return home. After this, the count manages to earn money by writing for a farmer and the family is happy for a while. The mother leaves to find her brother the Baron, and the father resumes drinking and once again abandons the boys in the woods. Hop has used breadcrumbs to mark the trail, but birds eat them. Spying a light in the distance, the boys arrive at the home of a Giantess and her alcoholic, Giant-Ogre husband. The Giantess hides the boys for fear her husband will eat them. When the Giant-Ogre discovers the boys, the wife claims she hid them only to fatten them up and locks them in a room. Hop manages to steal the key and escapes with his brothers. The giant discovers this, dons his seven-league boots, and sets off in pursuit, but falls asleep before finding the boys. Hop steals his boots and brings them to the King, who rewards him and makes the Count his prime minister. All the giants in the land are rounded up and carry out useful labor for the kingdom. Hop’s father the count passes a series of laws outlawing drinking and gambling and promoting public or private education for all children.

Fairy Tale Title

Hop o' my Thumb

Fairy Tale Author(s)/Editor(s)

George Cruikshank

Fairy Tale Illustrator(s)

George Cruikshank

Common Tale Type

The Children and the Ogre/Brothers and the Ogre

Tale Classification

ATU 327/ATU 327B

Page Range of Tale

pp. 1-30

Full Citation of Tale

“Hop O’ my Thumb.” George Cruikshank’s Fairy Library, George Cruikshank, London: Routledge and Sons, [1870s], pp. 1-30.

Original Source of the Tale

Charles Perrault

Tale Notes

Cruikshank created six full-page etchings to accompany the tale of Hop O’ My Thumb that depict nine scenes from the story. Not only does Hop O’ My Thumb leave a trail of white pebbles so he and his brothers can find their way out of the woods, he also marks trees with his knife, a practice Cruikshank says in a note is typical of Native Americans: “This is what Indians do—they notch trees and so find their way through the largest forests” (p. 9). Cruikshank includes comical asides. For example, Hop knows how seven-league boots work because he read about them in a book acquired from London printer and bookseller, Mr David Brogue of 86 Fleet Street.

Research and Curation

Nate Jones, 2020

Book Title

George Cruikshank's Fairy Library

Book Author/Editor(s)

George Cruikshank

Illustrator(s)

George Cruikshank

Publisher

Routledge and Sons

Date Published

1870-1879

Decade Published

1870-1879

Publisher City

London

Publisher Country

United Kingdom

Language

English

Rights

Public Domain

Digital Copy

Available at the CU Digital Library

Book Notes

With each tale in this book, the page numbers restart.

Traditional

White

Perrault, Charles. “Hop-o’-my-Thumb.” Old French Fairy Tales, Boston: Little, Brown, and Company, 1899, pp. 342-358.

Anonymous — Mon, 23 Aug 2021 20:36:31 +0000

Perrault, Charles. “Hop-o’-my-Thumb.” Old French Fairy Tales, Boston: Little, Brown, and Company, 1899, pp. 342-358. Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 08/23/2021 - 14:36

Charles Perrault

Tale Summary

Seven siblings are born no more than three years apart into a poor family in which the youngest boy, named Hop-O’-My-Thumb, is deemed a weakly little fellow, but in fact, is actually the smartest in the group. His woodcutting parents are too poor to keep all of the children, so they leave them lost in the woods. Hop-O’-My-Thumb leads the children out of the cold, dark woods to a child-eating Ogre’s house. The Ogre’s wife tries to hide the children inside, but the Ogre finds them and allows them to sleep one night before being eaten. Afraid of being slaughtered by the Ogre during the night, Hop-O’-My-Thumb switches the caps of the seven siblings with the crowns of the seven Ogresses. The Ogre mistakenly cuts the throats of the Ogresses and goes on a hunt in magical seven-league boots to kill the children. Hop-O’-My-Thumb steals the boots off of the Ogre when he is sleeping in the woods and tricks the Ogre’s wife into believing that the Ogre had been taken hostage and he needed all of her riches to save her husband. Hop-O’-My-Thumb brought home the wealth and lived happily ever after with a nobleman’s daughter.

Fairy Tale Title

Hop-o'-my-Thumb

Fairy Tale Author(s)/Editor(s)

Charles Perrault

Fairy Tale Illustrator(s)

None listed

Common Tale Type

The Children and the Ogre/Brothers and the Ogre

Tale Classification

ATU 327/ATU 327B

Page Range of Tale

pp. 342-358

Full Citation of Tale

Perrault, Charles. “Hop-o’-my-Thumb.” Old French Fairy Tales, Boston: Little, Brown, and Company, 1899, pp. 342-358.

Original Source of the Tale

Charles Perrault

Tale Notes

This richly illustrated edition of Hop-O’-My-Thumb includes six black and white images. The text is directed towards younger children. In the preface, Mary Howitt writes that “The gist of every fairy tale is the triumph of the weak over the strong—an overruling principle of justice and mercy, which will, in the end, set all things right; and so far they are full of truth .” In this version, Hop-O’-My-Thumb uses his wits to trick a hungry and angry Ogre into killing his daughters, seven Ogresses. Hop-O’-My-Thumb steals magical seven league boots from the Ogre and uses them to bring riches to his poor family.

Research and Curation

RJ McLennan, 2020

Book Title

Old French Fairy Tales

Book Author/Editor(s)

Charles Perrault, Madame D'Aulnoy, etc.

Illustrator(s)

"Two hundred illustrations by the most celebrated French artists"

Publisher

Little, Brown, and Company

Date Published

1899

Decade Published

1890-1899

Publisher City

Boston

Publisher Country

United States

Language

English

Rights

Public Domain

Digital Copy

Available at the CU Digital Library

Book Notes

None

Traditional

White