This is a gruesome tale. It has parents planning the deaths of their own offspring; two clever children in peril; a whole house made out of sweets (think of the flies on that!); and a particularly baroque attempt at cannibalism.
In the beginning of the story, poverty proves stronger than love; and at the end of the story, wealth proves stronger than hate.
So, what's not to like?
Oh, and I can't possibly write about Hansel and Gretel without mentioning Engelbert Humperdinck. (Because surely every day is more full of wonder for a mention of Engelbert Humperdinck.)
He did an opera version.
Word To Use Today: cannibal. This word was brought to us by Christopher Columbus (the one who sailed the ocean blue/In fourteen hundred and ninety two, not the film director). He called the Caribs of Haiti and Cuba canibales. That's from the Arawak caniba, which is basically the same word as Carib.
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