Charles Perrault (1628–1703) is known in Russia primarily for his fairy tales. But in France, he was mainly a high-ranking official during his life, and fairy tales were entertainment and leisure for him. The list of tales of Charles Perrault is constantly updated.
Parenting
Charles Perrault was born into the family of a lawyer who opposed Orthodox Catholicism, especially against Jesuitism. But the family professed Catholicism strictly, trying to revive the true spirit of Christ. Charles was the youngest in the family, where in addition to him there were two sisters and four brothers. He received a good education and became a lawyer. At the same time, he wrote poems and poems, made translations of the "Aeneids." That is, a craving for literary work was inherent in him. Then the writer does not yet know that he will be glorified by folk stories, from which one can now compile a list of Charles Perrault's tales.
Work
A hardworking young man works in the Ministry of Finance, and even the king Louis XIV himself notes the syllable of his letters. Moreover, in connection with the marriage of the king, and then the birth of the Dauphin, he writes odes. He participates in the birth of the Academy of Fine Literature. Subsequently, Perrault will be accepted into it, will become an academician.
But while he still does not know that he will begin to study folk art, from which a whole list of Charles Perrault's fairy tales will be compiled later.
Fairy tales
In the meantime, interest in ancient traditions is emerging in society. Charles Perrault also joins these trends with great enthusiasm. From under his pen gradually comes a whole list of fairy tales. Charles Perrault is somewhat confused - for such trinkets he is too serious a person.
Let us recall the well-known Cinderella (1697). The poor girl’s mother died, and after some time her father got married again. The stepmother, loving her two daughters, entrusted her stepdaughter with all the work, especially the dirty one, and she did not allow the girl to have fun at all. When the king announced that he was inviting all the girls of the kingdom to the ball, the poor thing, of course, was not taken, but entrusted with a lot of work. But after leaving for the stepmother's ball with the daughters, a godmother appeared. She was a fairy. The godmother dressed the girl and gave her a carriage and crystal slippers. But she strictly ordered that she leave the ball as soon as the appointed time arrives.
The charming beauty was carried away by dancing with the prince and at the very last minute came to her senses and ran away from the ball, having lost a tiny crystal slipper.
This shoe was picked up by the prince and announced that he would marry the girl whose foot the shoe would put on. They tried on a shoe for all the girls. Finally, the turn came to Cinderella. To everyone’s surprise, the shoe fit her. But even more surprising was the fact that Cinderella pulled out a second shoe from her pocket. The prince peered at Cinderella and recognized a sweet stranger who fascinated him at the ball. The girl was changed and taken to the palace, and a few days later they played a wedding. This magical fairy tale, which is believed to this day, ends happily.
Tales Continue
What other fairy tales did Charles Perrault write? The list goes on:
"Puss in Boots";
"Red Riding Hood";
"Tom Thumb".
Fairy, which bestows all "deserved"
This tale is correctly called “Fairy Gifts” and was written, like everyone else, in 1697. There was a widow with two daughters. One was a spilled mother - rude and unfriendly, and the second, the youngest, as if she were a stranger to them. The girl was sweet and friendly. But mother loved the one that looked like her, lazy and rude. The youngest daughter was forced to work hard in the house and still go to a distant source for water. It was hard and long. Once, as usual, having come for water, a girl met a wretched poor old woman who asked for some water to get drunk.
It was a fairy who wanted to know what kind of girl she was. With great desire, the girl rinsed the jug, took clean water and invited the old woman to drink. After drinking some water, the old woman said that what is the service, such will be the reward. With every word a girl utters, either a gem or a flower will fall from her lips. After this, the fairy departed, and the girl went home, carrying heavy water.
When the girl returned, her mother attacked her with reproaches for the delay. And the youngest daughter began to make excuses, and after each of her words a diamond or a pearl fell from her lips. Mother asked what was the matter and sent her eldest daughter for water. She went with great reluctance, angry at the long road. At the source, she met a richly dressed lady who asked her for water. Pretty rudely, as if sparing water, the girl handed the jug to the lady. She, having drunk water (and it was again a fairy, who now took a different look), said that the girl would certainly receive a reward for water. And they parted, each in its own direction.
The mother was delighted with the appearance of her daughter and began to ask her what was at the well. When the eldest daughter spoke, toads and snakes began to spill out of her mouth. The mother was angry with both daughters, and the youngest was simply driven out of the house. Walking through the woods, the girl met the prince, who spoke to her. And when the girl began to answer him, then flowers and precious stones poured from her lips. The prince was amazed by both the beauty and the treasures that she dropped. He firmly decided to marry her and took her to his palace. The wedding completed the job. And the eldest daughter became more and more angry every day. And she became so nasty that her mother drove her out of the house. Nobody needed, she died.
The famous lawyer partially heard these tales in childhood, partially questioned peasants and wrote down. Here's how Charles Perrault's tales go (list):
- "Rike-crest" (1697);
- The Blue Beard (1697);
- The Sleeping Beauty (1697).
In total, according to the French, eight fairy tales were written. Here are all the tales of Charles Perrault. The list in alphabetical order is given in the text.