Hansel and Gretel throughout the agesThe infamous Germanic fairy tale does not begin and end exclusively from the pen of the Brothers Grimm. Similar to the statement "every joke has a bit of truth" is also true for this fairy tale which has deep ties to the medieval period. It is believed that these stories of poverty, child abandonment, starvation and cannibalism can be traced back to the Middle Ages, when people authentically experienced these difficult situations. The story of Hansel and Gretel is about a young brother and sister threatened by a cannibalistic witch who lives deep in the forest in a house built of cakes and sweets. The two children save their lives by defeating her. The story is rich in history, has adapted over the years and has been imitated by many cultures around the world. Hansel and Gretel is considered folklore, these early allegories were passed down orally from generation to generation. The tale may have originated in the medieval period of the Great Famine (1315–1321), looking more closely at the period when it began with bad weather in spring....