Rapunzel

The story starts out in a fairly realistic manner. Rapunzel's parents were just trying to start a family when the witch from next door caused trouble. I think children might start to wonder that Rapunzel is not going to grow up as a normal child when the witch enters the picture.

Rapunzel starts out in the real world, but certain things in her life change as the story progresses. The witch has a raven that does what he is told. One of the things the bird is asked to do is to carry Rapunzel to a tower far away from home. Rapunzel likes her surroundings, because she can communicate with all the creatures of the forrest. Her hair grows really, really long, and she learns she can use it as a rope when the prince arrives. The language that the author uses fits with story. It keeps children engaged while they are listening to the story.

I'm not sure if the time periods are completely realistic. For example it is suggested that the prince comes to visit Rapunzel a couple of times and then they are whisked away by the bird to Rapunzel's parents. The prince then asks for Rapunzel's hand in marriage? It seems like every fantasy has a prince in it somewhere. If there's no prince there is always a hero.