Post #2

The Keene version of Hansel and Gretel would really be in a more wooded area and forest where it could be easy to understand how simple it is for children to get lost within the forest. The time period would be during a horrible crop season or famine of some sorts. This would provide the logic and back story to the father and stepmother having the children go on there own. Viewing the father do his ax work in the forest can also show that if he really wanted to he would have a pretty good sense to where to look for his children because he was an expert in his trait. There should also be a mentioning of a forbidden area of the forest that they children venture into without the knowledge that the father really has no idea what is beyond that point of the woods. That is where they would find the magical candy house that has a really old woman who lives in it. She would need to do some type of magical thing in order for her to be viewed as a witch so, I suggest that as the children eat at the house that the candy never really goes away. It is never ending candy. And that once the children have their fill they cannot physically move or run away once approached by the old lady who really does not have the intent to eat the children, but rather really wants them to never leave her side so she can have constant company. I believe that is a little straying form the story but that is exactly what Keene likes to do...