The Sleeping Beauty in the Woods

Name: The Sleeping Beauty in the Woods
Author: Charles Perrault

A king and queen, longing for a child, finally have a daughter. At her christening, seven fairies bestow gifts upon her, but an uninvited old fairy curses the princess to die from a spindle prick. A young fairy mitigates the curse, ensuring the princess will only fall into a deep sleep for a hundred years. To prevent the curse, the king bans spindles. Years later, the princess discovers an old woman spinning and, curious, pricks her finger, falling into a deep sleep. The king orders the palace to be sealed, and a dense forest grows around it to protect her. After a century, a prince hears tales of the sleeping beauty and, drawn by curiosity, finds the castle. The enchanted forest parts for him, and he discovers the sleeping princess. He awakens her with a kiss, and they fall in love. The palace awakens, and they celebrate their union with a grand feast. However, the prince's ogreish mother plots to eat their children. The cook deceives her, saving the children, but the queen discovers the ruse and seeks revenge. Ultimately, she meets her demise in a tub of serpents, allowing the prince, princess, and their children to live happily ever after.

By Charles Perrault · First published 1697 · Genre: Fairy tales, Fantasy, Children's literature · 4,801 words

First lines

Once upon a time there was a king and a queen, who were very sorry that they had no children, -- so sorry that it cannot be told.

At last, however, the Queen had a daughter. There was a very fine christening; and the Princess had for her godmothers all the fairies they could find in the whole kingdom (there were seven of them), so that every one of them might confer a gift upon her, as was the custom of fairies in those days. By this means the Princess had all the perfections imaginable.

What this Textopian page supports

The Sleeping Beauty in the Woods is listed on Textopian as a short story by Charles Perrault, dated 1697 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Short story
Author: Charles Perrault
Date: 1697 CE
Language: English
Genres: Fairy tales, Fantasy, Children's literature, Romantic, Folklore
Length: 4,801 words
Structure: 1 section, 54 paragraphs
Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)

Good citation fit

Work identity for The Sleeping Beauty in the Woods by Charles Perrault
Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
Readability and classroom-planning context
Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph

Discussion starters

What should a reader notice first when entering The Sleeping Beauty in the Woods?
How does this short story by Charles Perrault fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Fairy tales first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Fairy tales — Charles Perrault is a well-known fairy tale author and 'The Sleeping Beauty in the Woods' is one of his most famous works. It involves magic, princesses, and sleep curses, which are common elements in fairy tales.
Fantasy — The story features many elements of a fantasy tale such as a magical sleep curse, a wicked fairy, an enchanted castle, and a heroic prince.
Children's literature — 'The Sleeping Beauty in the Woods' has been read and loved by children for generations. Its simple language, moral lessons, and magical setting make it a classic piece of children's literature.
Romantic — The story revolves around the love of a prince for the sleeping princess whom he wakes from her long sleep, adding elements of romance.