Snow White
白雪公主
The kind and lovely Snow White is envied by the queen and tricked into a deep sleep by a poisoned apple, until the seven little friends and a prince help her wake again.
The story
Once a queen sat sewing by a window as snow drifted quietly outside. As she gazed at the snow, she pricked her finger, and three drops of blood fell on the white sill. Looking at the white of the snow, the red of the blood, and the black of the ebony window frame, she made a soft wish: “If only I had a daughter with skin as white as snow, lips as red as blood, and hair as black as ebony.” In time she had just such a little girl, and named her Snow White. Snow White grew day by day, kind of heart and quick to smile, and everyone loved her.
In the palace there was a queen who was beautiful, but very proud. She had a magic mirror, and every day she asked it, “Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?” The mirror always answered, “You, my queen, are the fairest of all,” and this made her glad. But Snow White grew lovelier as she grew up, and one day the mirror said, “You are fair, my queen, but Snow White is fairer than you.” The queen turned pale with rage, and a bitter jealousy took root in her heart.
The queen called for a huntsman and ordered him to take Snow White deep into the forest and never let her return. The huntsman led her among the trees, but when he saw how innocent and gentle she was, he could not bring himself to harm her. Quietly he said, “Poor child, run away — go deep into the forest and never go back to the palace.” Frightened and sad, Snow White ran on alone. Branches caught at her skirt, and the light slowly faded from the sky.
As night fell, Snow White saw a little cottage with a light in the window. She pushed the door open gently and found seven little beds, seven little chairs, and seven little bowls, everything very small. Weary and hungry, she tidied the house and fell asleep by a bed. The cottage belonged to seven little men who dug in the mountain by day and came home after dark. They were startled to find her, but once they heard her story, their hearts softened. “Stay and live with us,” they said. From then on Snow White cooked and cleaned, and lived safe and happy. Each morning the little men warned her, “Never open the door to a stranger.”
Meanwhile the queen, sure that Snow White was long gone, asked her mirror again, “Who is the fairest of them all?” But the mirror replied, “Here, my queen, you are the fairest — but beyond the forest, in the house of the seven little men, Snow White is fairer than you.” Shocked and furious, the queen knew Snow White was still alive. She thought of a wicked plan, dressed herself as a hunched old peddler woman, and filled a basket with a shiny red apple — an apple with poison inside.
The old woman came to the little cottage and knocked at the door. Remembering the little men’s words, Snow White only leaned out of the window. “I’m sorry, I cannot open the door,” she said. “No matter, my dear,” smiled the old woman. “See how red and sweet this apple is — take one and taste it.” She held it out. The apple looked so tempting that Snow White forgot to be careful and took a bite. No sooner had she swallowed it than her eyes closed and she sank down as if fast asleep, and could not be woken. The old woman gave a cold laugh far off and turned away.
That evening the little men came home and found Snow White on the floor. However they shook her, she would not wake, and they wept. They could not bear to bury her, so they made a clear glass coffin, laid her gently inside, and watched over her day and night. Her cheeks were still rosy, as though she were only sleeping. One day a prince rode by, saw Snow White in the glass coffin, and was so moved by her kindness and beauty that he begged the little men to let him take her away and care for her.
The little men could hardly bear to part with her, yet at last they agreed. As they carefully lifted the glass coffin, one of them stumbled, and the coffin gave a jolt — the little piece of poisoned apple slipped from Snow White’s lips! Slowly she opened her eyes, sat up, and asked softly, “Where am I?” Everyone was amazed and overjoyed, and the little men leapt and cheered. In time Snow White and the kind prince became dear friends, and she often returned to visit the seven little men in the forest. As for the proud and jealous queen, she was never seen again. And people said: true beauty is a kind heart.
Story takeaway
Pride and jealousy leave a person lonely; true beauty is a kind heart and gentleness toward others.
Talk together
The little men warned Snow White not to open the door, yet she was still tricked. What do you think you should do when a stranger offers you something?
For grown-ups
Parent note
This story is helpful for talking about jealousy and stranger safety. The queen cares so much about “who is fairest” that jealousy blinds her, while Snow White is fooled by forgetting the little men’s advice for one sweet moment. While reading, guide your child to see that no matter how nice something looks, we should not simply accept or eat what a stranger gives. You can also talk about how, when we envy someone, we can turn our energy back toward the good things we ourselves can do, rather than trying to hurt others.
Words to learn
- jealousy: an unhappy, sour feeling when someone else has or is more than you. e.g. The queen’s jealousy made her want to harm Snow White.
- mirror: something with a smooth surface that shows a reflection; in the story it can talk. e.g. The queen asked the magic mirror who was fairest.
- glass: a clear, smooth material that breaks easily. e.g. The little men made a glass coffin.
Reading activity
Play a “should I take it, should I eat it?” game — read a few situations and let your child decide: “A teacher you know gives everyone in class one biscuit.” → yes, that is safe. “A stranger alone on the street offers you sweets or a drink.” → no; tell a parent or teacher first. “Someone says, ‘Don’t tell any grown-ups, it’s our secret.’” → be careful; that is usually not safe. At the end, wonder together: if Snow White had listened to the little men and not taken the apple, how would things have gone?
Source information
Brothers Grimm · Grimm's Household Tales
Forest adventures, bravery, and old-world magic.
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