"There was once a King and Queen who were very sorrowful because they had no children. When at last, after long waiting, a daughter was born the King showed his delight by giving a christening feast, the like of which had never been known before." (Rackham 1933:182). Again this fairy tale begins with the king and queen desperately wanting a child, only to bear one and have things go pear shaped.

"Then came the turn of the old fairy. Shaking her head spitefully, she uttered the wish that when the baby grew up she might prick her finger with a spindle and die of the wound." (Rackham 1933:183). This is the moment when the drama picks up because of an evil fairy. As is seen in majority of fairy tales the evil and resentful women, queen or in this case fairy wishing to harm the much more beautiful princess, as a result of what can almost be seen as a misunderstanding.

"What are you doing, my good woman?" asked the princess.

"I'm spinning, my pretty child," was the answer.

"Ah, how charming! How do you do it? Do let me try"

"She had no sooner taken the spindle than, being hasty and a little awkward, she pieced her finger with the point." (Rackham 1933:183). Here can be seen when the princess, because of her wrong/stupid choice, has gotten herself into trouble that she herself cannot get out of. Just like in Snow-white when she continually let the evil queen into the house of her and the seven dwarfs,

As in traditional stories and fairy tales there is always a noble prince willing to risk his life to save that of the beautiful princess whom he loves but has never met. "When the young prince heard this he determined to find out the truth for himself. He straightaway leapt from his horse and began to force his way through the thick wood," (Rackham 1933:185).

"The princess was restored to her ancestral kingdom, but her history was kept secret. During a hundred years people had become so much wiser that they would not have believed that story it they ad been told. So nothing was explained, and nobody presumed to ask any questions about her, for a prince could marry whom he pleased." (Rackham 1933:189) Again the ending of this version of Sleeping Beauty is implied, we (the reader) are not told that they lived happily ever after we have to assume because it is a fairy tale that there had children (who were beautiful), were loved by all and that neither died young.

Figure 4