Briar-Rose Flashcards
by The Brothers Grimm — tap or click to flip
Flashcard Review
Flashcards: Briar-Rose
How does the Queen learn she will have a daughter?
A frog creeps out of the water while she is bathing and tells her she will have a daughter before the year is out.
Why is the thirteenth Wise Woman not invited to the feast?
The King only has twelve golden plates, so one of the thirteen Wise Women had to be left out.
What curse does the thirteenth Wise Woman place on the princess?
She declares that in her fifteenth year, the princess shall prick herself with a spindle and fall down dead.
How does the twelfth Wise Woman alter the curse?
She cannot undo it entirely, but softens the death sentence to a deep sleep lasting one hundred years.
What precaution does the King take to protect his daughter?
He orders every spindle in the entire kingdom to be burned.
Where does Briar-Rose find the spindle that triggers the curse?
In a little room at the top of an old tower, where an old woman sits spinning flax with a spindle.
What happens to the princes who try to reach the sleeping castle before the hundred years are up?
They become caught in the thorn hedge, which holds them fast as if it had hands, and they die a miserable death.
How many Wise Women exist in the kingdom, and how many are invited?
There are thirteen Wise Women in the kingdom, but only twelve are invited because there are only twelve golden plates.
What gifts do the Wise Women bestow upon the baby princess?
They give her virtue, beauty, riches, and "everything in the world that one can wish for." The twelfth saves her gift to soften the curse.
What is the King's son told about the castle before he goes to find it?
An old man tells him about the thorn hedge, the sleeping princess, and that many princes before him have died trying to get through.
How does the old woman in the tower respond when Briar-Rose asks what she is doing?
She says simply "I am spinning" and nods her head, as if it is the most ordinary thing in the world.
Who else falls asleep when Briar-Rose pricks her finger?
The entire palace falls asleep — the King, Queen, court, horses, dogs, pigeons, flies, and even the fire on the hearth.
How does the story demonstrate that fate cannot be escaped?
Despite the King destroying every spindle in the kingdom, Briar-Rose still finds one in a forgotten tower room and fulfills the curse exactly as foretold.
What does the story suggest about the consequences of exclusion?
The entire catastrophe stems from a single social slight — failing to invite the thirteenth Wise Woman — showing that small acts of exclusion can have devastating consequences.
How does the tale's ending reflect the theme of patience and timing?
The princes who arrive too early die in the thorns, while the prince who comes at the right moment finds the thorns transform into flowers that part willingly.
What role does renewal play in the story's resolution?
Every frozen element resumes exactly where it stopped — the fire flickers, the cook strikes the boy, the maid plucks the fowl — showing that life can be fully restored after a period of dormancy.
What is an example of foreshadowing in "Briar-Rose"?
The frog's prophecy at the very beginning foreshadows the supernatural forces that will shape Briar-Rose's entire life, establishing that destiny governs this world.
How does the story use dramatic irony when Briar-Rose discovers the spindle?
The reader knows the spindle is deadly, but Briar-Rose innocently asks "What sort of thing is that, that rattles round so merrily?" — her curiosity seals her fate.
How does the Grimms' description of the sleeping palace create a frozen tableau effect?
They list specific suspended actions — the cook reaching for the scullery boy, pigeons with heads under wings, flies on the wall — freezing an instant of ordinary life to emphasize the enchantment's totality.
What structural technique connects the sleeping scene to the awakening scene?
Parallelism — each frozen detail from the sleeping scene (horses, dogs, pigeons, flies, fire, cook, maid) is mirrored in the exact same order during the awakening.
What does "fain" mean in "The King, who would fain keep his dear child from the misfortune"?
It means gladly or willingly — the King would gladly do anything to protect his daughter from the curse.
What are "Wise Women" in the context of German folklore?
They are supernatural female figures with prophetic and magical powers, closer to fate-goddesses than the "fairy godmothers" of French fairy tale tradition.
What does "kindred" mean when the King invites his "kindred, friends and acquaintance" to the feast?
It means relatives or family members — the King invites his extended family along with friends and acquaintances.
What exact words does the thirteenth Wise Woman use to curse Briar-Rose?
"The King's daughter shall in her fifteenth year prick herself with a spindle, and fall down dead."
What does the prince say when warned about the deadly thorn hedge?
"I am not afraid, I will go and see the beautiful Briar-rose" — showing his determination despite hearing that many princes have died trying.