Many classic fairy tales use the woods as a playground for crucial changes for their heroes. A forest can still be a nice, idyllic place, where good things can happen. Yet, in most cases, every step into the woods initiates an important change. It's a life-changing opportunity with an unpredictable outcome. In psychology, a forest represents the unconscious, the unknown, feminity, and motherhood.
In fairy tales, it's often associated with protection and rebirth. But it also means danger. After all, it's a place to meet wolves, witches, and robbers. Or die of hunger!
The rich symbolism of the woods in the fairy tales is undoubtedly worth exploring by examples. Here are ten possible meanings or interpretations of the forest in classic fairy tale stories.
What Woods Mean to You?
Can't say about that. It's very likely the artist was just a bit superficial.
Yes, it's very possible.
I think bread represents temporality and Hans' decision proves his immaturity. He is not able to predict the consequences of his decision and he has to pay the price before he qualifies for a responsible adult.
I am not familiar with a version where he marries, but I am sure there are some.
There is a Princess on the Glass Hill, for instance. I believe there are dozens of variations in Germany and Scandinavia.
This is one of possible lessons. To me, there is a strong message about trying to find the happiness in the moment.
It's a command, like a command of the master of the genie. 'I command, you!' or something similar.
I never trully digged into the history of this fairy tale. I've heard about Runge, but can't say much more.
This is wrong. Right translation would be 'wait a minut' (in context) or 'be careful' (literary). It's an expression of mosquito's surpirise.
Thank you for the four links at the very end of your wizzley!
The little brother and the little sister link intrigues me with the in-text images.
It initially looks like perhaps her changing hair length might muster up passing time. But then that length nestles sometimes at, sometimes above, sometimes below her waist.
So there might, might not be a temporal interpretation other than artistic whim.
Or might perhaps artistic interpretation present us a heroine with fast-growing hair after each trim?