Reading From Grimms The Grimms Collection is a
wonderful treasure trove of folk wisdom, but there is no guide attached
to it. This leads to problems; and to some readers being put off.There
is a world of difference between a three year-
old and a six year-old.
The Grimm's compendium is not organised in such a way as to recognise
this; nor so as to place like-
stories with like. The guide
below is food for thought. Only the parent reading can say whether a
particular
story will be right for their
child on a particular evening.Grimms’
is only one collection of folktales. If you have links with other
cultures, then find your roots. If your local library fails you, the
Central Reference Library in the City may have a good collection. Maybe
your own parents or grandparents are an even better source.Don't
be in a rush, though. Ask yourself- What age is this story best suited
to? If your answer means you have to wait a couple of years; wait.Many
of the tales collected in Grimms are heavily condensed treasure chests
of mythology, folklore and archetypal
images. Some, such as 'Jorinda
and Joringel' and 'Fundevogel' give the impression that they are
centuries older than the others, and come out of a magical time and
space. They are like dreams.When you tell the stories, use
steady, quiet speech, and give far less emphasis to the spoken voice
dialogue than would be the case in real dialogue. The children will
dream the images and do not need to be woken from the dream by your
voice. They cannot properly experience the story if you continually
bring them back to the surface of it by what you believe is appropriate
yelling and knee-slapping.Don't just read, but imagine the
images yourself. You will be drawn to particular passages and
descriptions. Take more time over these. A few which have caught me are:In olden times, when wishing still helped one… (The Frog King)Thereupon she went into a quite secret, lonely room, where no one ever came… (Snow White)…so wretched, so utterly wretched (Snow White)Oh, shake me! Shake me! We apples are all ripe! (Mother Holle)Lina said to Fundevogel: 'Never Forsake me and I will never forsake you' (Fundevogel)If
you feel you have to leave something out because its too horrible, then
either the story is too old for the child or you fail to understand the
way your child will accept the rough justice and inwardly feel content
at the outcome.If the latter, you may need to read the story to yourself; rather than to the child. But
listen to this idea. I suspect that to have a similar effect on the
soul of an adult, as upon a child hearing the story two or three times,
the adult would have to read/hear the story hundreds of times. We
simply have too much garbage in the way, too many restraints, hang-ups
and preoccupations. We are too old.Little Snow White, for me,
is the story in Grimms that most holds the winter, the dark time of the
soul from which there seems no escape. Other stories, I think,
carry different influences. Quest stories are so good for Spring. The
Michaelic urge to go out and conquer the world, against the odds. The
'going under' stories can suit winter, but I find they are usually
better in autumn, when the threat of winter is close at hand and the
stories carry the promise of deliverance.( This may be the effect of
having had autumn and the Christ story together for many years, here
where I am, in the Southern Hemisphere.)The only other thing I
would say is that many of the stories have indented verses, and it
seems natural to sing these. Keep a tune for each verse and these will
become rhythmical signposts for the child.e.g.: Looking-glass, looking-glass, on the wall A A A G G G 2A A 2G Who in this land is the fairest of all ? A A A G G G A A A 2G Thou, O Queen, art the fairest of all. 2E E D D D E E E 2D AppendixGrimms3y.o +nd the Seven Little Kids (A)The Three SpinnersThe Straw, the Coal and the BeanLouse and FleaThe Elves and the Shoemaker (C)Sweet PorridgeThe Star Money (C) (W)4y.o +The Valiant Little Tailor (S)Mother Holle (A)The Bremen Town Musicians (S)Thumbling (S)Old SultanBriar Rose (A)Fundevogel (A)RumplestiltskinThe Golden Bird (S)The Queen BeeJorinda and Joringel (A)How Six got on in the World (S)The Poor Miller's Boy and his Cat (S)The Four Skillful Brothers (S)The Hare and the Hedgehog5y.o +The Frog King/Iron HenryFaithful JohnRapunzel (A)The Fisherman and his WifeCinderella (A)The Seven Ravens (A)Little Red Cap (A)(W)The Six Swans (A)King ThrushbeardLittle Snow White (W)The Water of Life (S)The Shoes that were danced to piecesSnow White and Rose Red (W)The Twelve Apostles ( C )6y.o +Hansel and Gretel (W)The Goose GirlOne eye, Two eyes and Three eyesA Autumn(may only be indicative for Southern Hemisphere)W WinterS SpringC Christmas
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