Chapter XXV: Snowwhite

Snowwhite is of special interest to the students of the folk-tale as being obviously a late product combining many _motifs_ from different, more primitive, or at least earlier formulae. E. Boeklen, in his _Schneewitchen Studien_, I, Leipzig 1910, suggests influence by Hansel and Gretel; The Seven Ravens; The Sleeping Beauty; The Maiden without Hands; One Eye, Two Eyes, Three Eyes; False Bride, etc.; and Bolte, i., 453, appears to agree with him. Certainly almost every one of the incidents can be paralleled in other sets of folk-tales. The combination "white as snow," "red as blood," "black as ebony," has already been given in the present volume (see p. 173). Bringing back an animal's heart instead of the proposed victim's is common form as early as the Book of Genesis; and the trial of the three beds is familiar to English children in Southey's "Three Bears." It would seem that a story something like "Snowwhite" was known in Shakespeare's time, as there appears to be a reference to it in the main plot of "Cymbeline" (see _Germania_, ix., 458).

The form I have given to the formula follows very closely that of the Grimms' 53. It is one of their best stories and occurs widely spread throughout Germany. Whether that implies original composition in Central Europe cannot at present be determined, but it certainly looks that way. I have, however, omitted Bolte's F referring to the punishment of the Queen, which is wanting in the majority of the variants. No editor of a text would under similar circumstances take account of so rare a variant.

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LIST OF INCIDENTS

I give in the following list the chief incidents that occur in the preceding tales, using for the most part the nomenclature used in the notes or in the list of incidents attached to my paper on "The Problem of Diffusion" in the _Transactions of the International Folk-Lore Congress_, 1892, pp. 87-98.

N. B. Incidents in Drolls are placed in italics. In some few
cases, the incidents are referred to only in the notes.

Acquisition Task, xii.

Animal Aid, xi., xvii.

Apple Speaking, xviii.

Bean Transformation, xxiv.

Bird Aid, i.

Bird Election, viii.

Bird Prophecy, viii., xxi.

Bird Throwing, x.

Blood Resuscitation, xvi.

Bread Crumb Track, xxii.

Bride Quest, xii.

Captured Bride, xii., xxi.

_Casting Sheep's Eyes_, xv.

Castle Building Task, xviii.

_Cheese Squeezing_, x.

Children Sacrifice, xvi.

Cleansing Stable Task, xviii.

_Cow's Stomach Refuge_, xxiv.

Cure by Fruit, ix.

Descent to Hell, xvii., xviii.

Dogs in Bag, vi., xx.

_Door Dropping_, xix.

Dragon Slayer, xxi.

Dress Rhyme, i.

Enclosure in Bag, vi.

Envious Sisters, i., vii.

Exchange Series, ii.

Exposed Hero, viii., xxii.

External Soul, iii.

Fairy Godmother, i.

_False Bathing_, xi.

False Bride, xviii.

_False Sale_, xxiv.

Feather Dress, vii.

Feet Rhyme, i.

Finger Ladder Task, xviii.

_Flea Bite Blows_, x.

Flight from Ogre, xviii.

Forbidden Chamber, xii.

_Fox in Briar Bush_, vi.

_Fox in Fish-cart_, vi.

_Giants Quarrelling_, x.

_Girl in Bag_, ii.

Helpful Animals, i.

Honey Trap, i.

_Horse from Stable Theft_, xvi.

_Horse's Ear Guide_, xxiv.

_Iced Bear's Tail_, vi.

_Inside Again_, xx.

Jealous Brother-in-law, xvii.

Jealous Mother-in-law, xvii., xxv.

Jephtha Vow, xviii.

Language of Animals, viii.

Life Token, iii., vii.

_Lollipop House_, xxii.

Lost Shoe, i.

Love at Distance, xxi.

_Magic Cudgel_, ix.

Magic Dress, i.

Magic Purse, ix.

Magical Weapons, xii.

Menial Hero, xviii.

Menial Heroine, i.

Moon on Forehead, vii.

Mutilated Foot, i.

Nobility Test, xi.

Oblivion Kiss, xviii.

Obstacle Pursuit, xii., xviii., xxii.

Ogre Transformation, xi.

Overheard Boasting, vii.

_Paradise Visitor_, xix.

Pebble Track, xxii.

_Planting Pigs' Tails_, xv.

Poisoned Comb, xxv.

Poisoned Cup, xvi.

Poisoned Half-apple, xxv.

Pride before Fall, xiv.

_Priest in Bag Ride_, xvi.

Prince Rescue, xxv.

Punishment for Curiosity, xvii.

_Purse or Life_, xvi.

Pursuit Rhyme, i.

Quarrel of Limbs, vi.

Quest Tasks, vii.

_Rage Wager_, xv.

Recognition Test, xii.

Rescue from Dragon, iii.

Sale of Bed, xviii.

_Scissors_, iv.

Seven Bens and Seven Glens, xii.

Sight Taboo, xvii.

_Sheet off Bed Theft_, xvi.

Shoe Marriage Test, i.

Snow-white, Blood-red, xxv.

Speech Taboo, vii.

_Stick Finger_, xxii.

Substituted Children, vii.

Substituted Heart, vii., xxv.

Supernatural birth, iii.

Swan Maidens, xii.

Thankful Animals, xii., xiii.

_Thief Apprentice_, xvi.

Three Beds Trial, xxv.

_Thumb Bung_, xvi.

_Thumbkin_, xxiv.

_Top-off, Half-gone, All-gone_, vi.

Transformation by Fruit, ix.

Tree Rhyme, i.

Turned to Stone, iii., xxi.

Ungrateful Animal, xx.

_Unicorn Captured_, x.

Unseen Bridegroom, xvii.

_Visitor from Paradise_, xix.

_Washing Horses within_, xv.

_Wolf Caught in Hole_, xxiv.

_X at a Blow_, x.

* * * * *

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