College of Education

Hansel and Gretel by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm

The story of siblings Hansel and Gretel who got

abandoned in the middle of nowhere and it was
orchestrated by their own parents, especially by their
stepmother. They will take them into the forest and leave
them there. This story is told by Jacob and Wilhelm
Grimm, also known as the Grimm Brothers. I choose this
as the book that I am going to read to the grade 7 students
for the reason that they can get a lot of moral lessons from
the story. It reflects life, family, love, courage, and the
experiences of the characters from a long time ago on how
they have lived their lives since the story happened during
the Medieval age. It unfolds how Hansel and Gretel
approached the difficulties in their lives as young children.
Even though this is a fairy tale, some scenarios in the story
can be seen in real life situations that I know most of us
can relate to, for we have probably experienced it.

Their family was in a precarious situation because of the hungriness that they are
experiencing. They often spare their food for later, and endure their starvation. Worst thing
that had happened was when their parents talked it out that they should left their kids behind
in the forest because they couldn't feed them anymore, but their father was however reluctant
about it because of course Hansel and Gretel are his children. Their stepmother bluntly
insinuated that 2 starving beings are better than 4 beings who are struggling to portion the
food that they eat. Since the father is unwilling to do it, she said “then we will all four starve;
you had better get the coffins ready”. For that reason, the poor woodcutter made up his mind
and followed his wife's order. In this situation, this reflects the sad truth of the life of other
people who are experiencing poverty and do not have enough food to eat, and even some do
not have their own shelter to sleep. Some kids resort to asking for food or money from people
to survive their day. Some even got sold by their mother or father because they can't feed
them. This kind of situation mirrors what the young children are facing such as those who
asks food on the street, and those who sings with their cans and hand out envelopes for
money. 

Hansel and Gretel are very much aware of their parents’ plan to abandon them during
the first try, and the second time that they're deep in the forest. So, Hansel consoles her sister
about it and planned something, so they can outsmart the plan of their stepmother. The first
attempt of getting them lost in the forest turned into a fiasco for they were able to go back
home by dropping white flint stones and use it as tracks. However, during the second time
they got lost for the bread tracks that Hansel did was eaten by the birds. They got badly lost
and extremely hungry in the forest and experienced the horrifying moment of their lives. In
this part of the story, I think the grade 7 students will learn to be smart in the midst of
adversity, that instead of worrying, they can plan something that will help them make their
life better. They may fail, but they will learn from it, and achieve their success at the end of
the day. I know that kids like Hansel and Gretel should be protected instead of experiencing
such frightening things, but the setting of the story was in Medieval period wherein it was
difficult to survive life. Other kids these days are much more privilege than kids before, but
they might still encounter difficult things, and they have to find their way out of it or solve it.

Another significant part in the story was the courage of the siblings to be more clever
than the witch. At that moment, Hansel was caged and Gretel was forced to do chores like
getting some water, while Hansel was locked up for the witch is trying to feed him a lot to
make him fat to eat for tomorrow. However, the old hag's eyesight is bad. For that reason,
Hansel took his chance to trick her whenever she checks if his arms are plump enough, but
Hansel is not handing out his arms of course, he hands out a stick instead. Another act of
courage this time from Hansel's sister Gretel which is when she pushes the Witch into the
iron stove and locked her up in there, burning, howling, and dying which, I can
wholeheartedly say that it serves her right. Gretel, then proceed to free his brother from the
cage, and there they danced and rejoiced for they have survived. They keep the pearls and
precious stones that they've found in the Witch's chest, and find their way back to their home.
This part is my favorite in the story. This does not show only courage, but also love and care.
Hansel, who buys time or delay the Witch from cooking him, and for Gretel to perceived the
real intention of the Witch, and outsmart her so she falls in her misery. They both have
contributed to their survival in the hands of the Witch, and showed bravery. I want the young
children to know that there will be bad people out there. Sometimes, we aren’t getting help,
so it's up to us save ourselves, not only in dangerous situations, but also during the difficult
situations in our lives. 

Hansel and Gretel were successful in going back home to their father. Bringing the
valuable pearls and stones that they've got from the Witch's chest. As the story said, they have
fell on their father's neck, and I'm sure that he was glad that his children are back home. Their
needs were taken care of, and they will live happily without worrying that they have nothing
to eat for later or maybe tomorrow. There will be no starvation, no more stepmother because
she mysteriously died at the end, so just more than enough food for them to eat. So, I hope
that the grade 7 students will learn that, like what they all say, there's always a rainbow after
the rain, and that our lives will get better if we do something about it. Endure the hardships
while you can, if not then it's time to make a move, and remove yourself from the situation.
It's you who can make changes in your life, and bring victory.