Zelinsky, P. O. (1997). Rapunzel. M. ILL. Paul O. Zelinsky. New York: Dutton Children’s Books. ISBN 0525456074

PLOT SUMMARY

In Zelinsky’s Rapunzel there was a married couple who finally was going to have a child. As she waited for the birth of their child, she spotted a bed of rapunzel in a garden, which belonged to a sorceress.   She had this unruly craving for it. Her husband being the devoted man he was, felt obligated to get the rapunzel to his wife at whatever cost. He was able to retrieve as much rapunzel under the agreement he would turn over his child once she was born and save his wife from death. The sorceress named the child Rapunzel and cared for her meeting her every need. In order to protect Rapunzel from the rest of the world the sorceress placed her in a tower in the woods. The only way to reach Rapunzel was when she would let down her hair. For many years Rapunzel lived alone until a prince noticed the tower. He gained her attention and in an instant they fell madly in love with one another. After the prince and Rapunzel married, she was soon expecting, betraying the sorceress which caused her to banish Rapunzel from the tower and into the woods. The prince returned to the tower expecting Rapunzel, but was met by the sorceress, who caused his fall from the tower making him go blind. As the prince roamed the forest always keeping his wife in mind, Rapunzel one day heard his cries and discovered her husband. Over joyed she cried upon his eyes and miraculously gained his vision back. Rapunzel, the prince, and their twins came across his village where they lived happily ever after.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Although the sorceress provided, cared and loved her, Rapunzel was really never hers to keep. This holds true throughout the fairytale. It is ironic on how much the sorceress wanted to keep her safe from the real world, yet she was quick to banish Rapunzel when she became pregnant. The illustrations done in oil paint depict a beautiful scenery, magical and fairy tale like setting.

REVIEW EXCERPT (S)

-BOOKLIST (1997) “Children--and adults--will pore over the intricate detail and glowing colors; they will also be moved by the mysterious tale of nurture and passion and terror.”

-SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL (1997) “Masterful oil paintings capture the Renaissance setting and flesh out the tragic figures.”

-HORN BOOK (1998) “It takes a scholar's mind and an artist's insight to endow the familiar with unexpected nuances--which Zelinsky does with passion and dazzling technique.”

-The Caldecott Medal (1998)

-Notable Children’s Book (Commended, 1998)

CONNECTIONS

Class discussion on what the characteristics of a fairy tale. Use Rapunzel along with the following fairy tales to analyze this genre.

Brown, Marcia. CINDERELLA. ISBN 9780736421867

Shepard, Aaron. ONE-EYE! TWO-EYES! THREE-EYES! : A VERY GRIMM FAIRY TALE. ISBN 9780689867408