Rapunzel A Story of Courage and Freedom

Rapunzel! Are you familiar with this name? Remember a beautiful girl with long hair. Yes, you got it. Here is the fresh retelling of this story.

From childhood, Rapunzel was locked in a tower with no doors. Her magical golden hair becomes her only link to the outside world.

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One day, a prince hears her singing, and they form a secret bond, planning her escape.

However, the sorceress discovers their plan, cutting off Rapunzel’s hair and banishing her to a desert.

Blinded by the sorceress’s spell, the prince wanders until he hears Rapunzel’s voice. Let’s continue this magical journey.

Enjoy this magical bedtime story and share it with others.

Short History of Rapunzel

The story of Rapunzel originates from European folklore and was famously recorded by the Brothers Grimm in 1812.

It is believed to have roots in older fairy tales, including Persinette by Charlotte-Rose de Caumont de La Force (1698) and an even earlier Italian tale, Petrosinella by Giambattista Basile (1634).

Over the years, Rapunzel’s story has been adapted into books, plays, and films, with Disney’s Tangled (2010) being one of the most well-known modern versions.

The tale emphasizes themes of love, resilience, and freedom, showcasing how courage and determination can overcome even the strongest of obstacles.

Rapunzel – Let’s Read

Once, in a distant kingdom, a poor couple lived near a lush garden that belonged to a powerful sorceress.

The wife longed to eat the fresh, green rampion growing there, so her husband secretly climbed over the wall to get some for her. But the sorceress caught him.

“Please have mercy!” he pleaded. “My wife is with child and craves this rampion.”

The sorceress gave him the rampion but demanded a price: the couple’s baby.

The man, terrified, agreed. When the baby girl was born, the sorceress caught her and gave her a beautiful name, Rapunzel, and raised her in a tall tower hidden deep in the woods.

The tower had no doors, only a high window. As Rapunzel grew, her golden hair became long and magical, glowing in the sunlight.

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Whenever that sorceress would visit her and call, “Rapunzel ‘O’ dear Rapunzel, let down your hair!” Rapunzel would lower her braids, and the sorceress would climb up.

Years passed, and Rapunzel spent her days singing to the birds and dreaming of the world beyond her window.

One afternoon, a young prince was riding through the forest when he heard her voice. Enchanted by her song, he searched until he found the tower.

Hiding behind the trees, he watched the sorceress climb up using Rapunzel’s hair.

When the sorceress left, the prince called out, mimicking her voice, “Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair!”

Curious, Rapunzel lowered her hair, and the prince climbed up. At first, she was frightened, but his kind smile put her at ease.

The prince told her about the vast world outside, and they quickly became friends.

Each evening, the prince returned, bringing stories of the kingdom and the wonders beyond the forest. They secretly planned her escape.

Rapunzel wove a strong ladder from her hair strands and silk ribbons the prince brought her.

One evening, when the sorceress came, Rapunzel accidentally revealed her visits with the prince. Furious, the sorceress cut off Rapunzel’s hair and banished her to a faraway desert.

She tied the severed braid to the window and used it to trick the prince.

When the prince climbed up, he found the sorceress instead of Rapunzel. “You’ll never see her again!” she sneered and cast a spell, blinding him.

Heartbroken, the prince wandered through the forest, guided only by the sound of Rapunzel’s voice, which he swore he could still hear.

Meanwhile, in the desert, Rapunzel lived alone, waiting for a miracle.

One day, the prince heard her singing and followed her voice. When they finally met, she embraced him tightly, her tears falling on his eyes.

To their astonishment, her tears healed his blindness!

Reunited, they returned to the prince’s kingdom. Rapunzel marvelled at the bustling towns, green meadows, and sparkling rivers she had only imagined.

Together, they ruled the kingdom, their love stronger than any magic.

And so, after years of longing, Rapunzel’s dreams come true, and she lived happily, her golden hair no longer bound to a tower but free to shine under the sun.

The End

10 Fun Facts About Rapunzel for Kids

Here are 10 fun facts about Rapunzel:

1. Rapunzel’s Name Comes from a Plant – The name Rapunzel comes from a type of leafy green plant (rampion), which the pregnant woman in the story craved.
2. The Story Has Many Versions – While the Brothers Grimm made it famous, older versions like Petrosinella (1634) and Persinette (1698) existed before.
3. Her Hair Would Be Extremely Heavy – In most versions, Rapunzel’s hair is about 70 feet long. In real life, that much hair would weigh around 60-80 pounds!
4. Disney’s Tangled Took 6 Years to Make – The 2010 film Tangled was one of Disney’s most expensive movies, taking over 6 years and $260 million to complete.
5. Rapunzel is a Real Name – While rare, Rapunzel is an actual name, mostly inspired by the fairy tale.
6. Rapunzel is One of the Few Princesses Without a Stepmother – Unlike Cinderella or Snow White, Rapunzel’s story doesn’t involve an evil stepmother—just a sorceress who acts as a mother figure.
7. Her Magic Hair is Unique to Disney – In the original fairy tale, Rapunzel’s hair is just long—it doesn’t have magical healing powers like in Tangled.
8. The Original Tale Had a Sadder Twist – In early versions, Rapunzel becomes pregnant, which leads to the sorceress discovering her secret meetings with the prince.
9. There’s a Real Tower Inspired by Rapunzel – A Rapunzel-like tower exists in Trendelburg, Germany, and many believe it inspired the fairy tale.
10. Rapunzel and Flynn Rider Appear in Frozen – If you look closely, Rapunzel and Flynn Rider make a cameo at Elsa’s coronation in Frozen (2013), linking their worlds together!