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...

Assignment Two

In my eyes, the Keene version of Hansel and Gretel would take place during a great famine when the landscape was very harsh, quite like The Juniper Tree. Our main characters, would live next to a very dense forest of dead trees, where they would frequently venture to chop wood. The father and stepmother were quite worried about feeding their two children, but they never intended to leave them in the woods. On one such wood gathering errand, however, the children strayed from their parents and were no place to be found. Although the parents were concerned with young Hansel and Gretel, they had to return home before they themselves got lost in the dark woods. The children found themselves wandering through the maze of the dead trees in search of their home, but they were far away. They finally stumbled upon a small cabin that seemed quite warm and inviting, with a charming garden and smoky chimney. After knocking on the door, they were greeted by an elderly woman that resided alone in the small home. She offered them a place to stay and fed warm meals to the hungry children. The woman was delighted to have company in her home and secretly tried to put a magical spell on them so they would never leave her. Hansel and Gretel, however, longed to be home with their family and the woman sent them on their way with a whole cart of food to bring to their parents. The children found their way home and the parents were delighted with the goods they had brought with them. In this version, like The Juniper Tree, we see harsh times and rugged landscape, less blame upon the stepmother and father, magic, as well as a more realistic plot that could be construed into the Grimm’s tale upon many repetitions.

Assignment 2- 20.Jan 2009

Hi Erica, Keith, Mallory and Anna,

Below is a copy of the Assignment that was discussed in class today. Well you are from now on a team of four only, as Megan is not doing this course anymore.


The first thing about this assignment that differentiates it from last week's, is the fact that it is going to be TEAMWORK!

Given that you have watched ,,The Juniper Tree'' and attended today's discussion of what this movie portrays, try to, as a group, come up with what Keene's version of ,,Hansel and Gretel", would be. In what sort of a world could this story have been written?

We could assume that the kids are 11 and 13 and the witch is ,,a lone woman'' who lives in a hut in the forest.

Looking forward to all your version of ,,Hansel and Gretel"!

Ann