Early Versions of Snow White
The Seven Dwarfs Did Not Appear in Earlier Fairy Tales
The first version of Snow White, as it is known today, appeared in print through the efforts of Jakob and Wilhelm Grimm. They were two German brothers who are remembered today through their work as scholars and collectors of folklore. In 1812, the brothers published a fairy tale story that had been told to them by two sisters, Jeannette and Amalie Hassenpflug, who lived in the town of Cassel. This was the basic story of Snow White.
The Grimm Brothers’ Snow White Fairy Tale
In their original version, the heroine was known as Snow Drop and her adversary was her mother, not a stepmother queen. At the end of the story, the wicked queen is forced to don red-hot iron shoes and dance herself to death. In later editions, they changed Snow Drop to Snow White, made the villain a stepmother, and softened her death. These changes were made apparently in an effort to make the narrative more suitable for children.
The original story also introduced the magic mirror, the seven dwarfs, and the glass coffin. These story devices were kept in later revisions. Walt Disney’s classic animated film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, was very faithful to the revisions in its plot. Its main change being names given to the dwarfs.
Although it was the Grimm Brothers who first brought Snow White to prominence, similar tales have existed in other countries at various times.
Other Versions of the Snow White Fairy Tale
The Young Slave. The 17th Century Italian folklorist, Giambattista Basile, included this story in his work, Il Pentamerone. It contains elements of both Snow White and Sleeping Beauty.
Gold-Tree and Silver-Tree. This tale from the Scottish Highlands was undoubtedly influenced by the Snow White story. In it, a mother (Silver-Tree), asks a talking fish who is the “fairest of all.“ When she is told that it is her daughter, Gold-Tree, she orders her to be taken out and killed. She later discovers that her daughter is not dead but has married a handsome prince. She finds her and poisons her. The prince places Gold-Tree, not in a glass coffin, but in a locked room. He remarries and his second wife discovering Gold-Tree’s body revives her. Unusual ending whereby Gold-Tree, the prince, and his second wife all live happily ever after.
Maria, the Wicked Stepmother, and the Seven Robbers. This tale from Italy first appeared in print in Germany in 1870. An evil stepmother orders her husband to take his daughter, Maria, and abandon her in the woods. It is there that the young girl wanders into a home owned by seven robbers who take her under their protective wing. When the stepmother learns that Maria is still alive, she arranges for her to be given a poisonous ring. The grieving robbers place Maria into a coffin and take it to a nearby city. It is there that a young king discovers the casket and is able to revive her.
Nourie Hadig. This Armenian folk tale involves no dwarfs or robbers, but does have a poisonous ring that is given to Nourie Hadig by her envious mother. The magic mirror is replaced by the moon.
Myrsina (Myrtle). This Greek version of Snow White has mythological connections. The evil stepmother is replaced by Myrsina’s two nasty sisters, the magic mirror by the Sun, and the heroine stumbles upon the house where the twelve Months reside. Another poisonous ring is involved and the glass coffin is replaced by a golden chest. In the best of fairy tale tradition, a handsome prince revives the comatose victim.
More on these stories and others can be found at Snow-White and Other Tales and at SurLaLune Fairy Tales.
Related Articles: The Story behind Snow White, Modern Versions of Snow White, Adult Versions of Snow White
Disney's Version of the Dwarfs
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