Paper short abstract:

This paper discusses the representation of the hero/ine in the fairy tale Hansel and Gretel with an emphasis on the heroine. The research examined fourteen variations from Iceland and compared to 19 variations from Europe. The findings suggest that some heroines are passive while others are active.

Paper long abstract:

Fairy tales are about characters that are faced with tests and trials and when they successfully complete their tasks they are well reworded. These characters will react differently when faced with danger; some are passive while others are clever and brave. This paper discusses the representation of the heroine and the hero in the fairy tale Hansel and Gretel with a particular emphasis on the heroine. The research examined all of the fourteen variations from Iceland and compared to 19 variations from different countries in Scandinavia and Europe for the purpose of getting a more complete idea of the roles of heroines and heroes. The purpose of this research was to bring focus to the heroine, her interactions with the hero, and to evaluate who takes on a more active role in the story. The paper also discusses the geographical differences of the heroine's representations. The findings suggest that the these fairy tales are diverse and the characters take on different gender roles depending on the cultural and geographical context. There are obvious similarities regarding these gender roles based on similar cultural heritage and location, for example there are similar motifs and representations of the hero/ine and narratives in the variations from Iceland and Scandinavia. The paper concludes by discussing the heroines' broad spectrum of participation, from being almost totally passive to an active and strong leader; and how these tales can be used in the teaching and socialization of children in past and present.