Snowdrop by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm
The story revolves around a young woman who marries a prince after being awakened from a magical sleep by his kiss. However, she soon discovers that her husband's love for her is shallow and he is more interested in her beauty than her inner qualities. The woman's attempts to win her husband's heart are met with rejection, leading her to realize that true love requires mutual respect and understanding.
By Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm · First published 1819 · Genre: Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Children's Literature · 3,447 words
First lines
It was the middle of winter, and the snowflakes were falling from the sky like feathers. Now, a Queen sat sewing at a window framed in black ebony, and as she sewed she looked out upon the snow. Suddenly she pricked her finger and three drops of blood fell on to the snow. And the red looked so lovely on the white that she thought to herself: 'If only I had a child as white as snow and as red as blood, and as black as the wood of the window frame! ' Soon after, she had a daughter, whose hair was black as ebony, while her cheeks were red as blood, and her skin as white as snow; so she was called Snowdrop. But when the child was born the Queen died. A year after the King took another wife. She was a handsome woman, but proud and overbearing, and could not endure that any one should surpass her in beauty. She had a magic looking-glass, and when she stood before it and looked at herself she used to say:
What this Textopian page supports
Snowdrop is listed on Textopian as a fable by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, dated 1819 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Fable
- Author: Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm
- Date: 1819 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Children's Literature, Adventure, Drama
- Length: 3,447 words
- Structure: 1 section, 83 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Snowdrop by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm
- 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 Snowdrop?
- How does this fable by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fairy Tale first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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- Cinderella by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- The Constant Tin Soldier by Hans Christian Andersen
Genres
- Fairy Tale — The story features classic fairy tale elements such as a princess, a wicked stepmother, magic, and a moral lesson.
- Fantasy — Incorporates fantastical elements like magic mirrors, dwarfs, and enchanted objects.
- Children's Literature — The narrative is simple, with clear moral lessons, making it suitable for children.
- Adventure — Snowdrop's journey through the forest and her encounters with various characters provide an adventurous plot.
Tags
Fairy Tale · German Folklore · Romance · Tragedy · Love Story · Poetic · Symbolic · Nature Imagery · Winter Setting · Isolation · Loneliness · Longing