Marchen

In a fairy tale, or Marchen, the writer weaves together magic, adventure, and often a moral lesson. The best Marchen are those in which the events seem impossible, yet they happen anyway. The story often begins with "once upon a time" and ends with "happily ever after." Some of the most famous Marchen are "Cinderella," "Sleeping Beauty," and "Hansel and Gretel." In each of these stories, the Marchen writer has taken ordinary people and placed them in extraordinary circumstances. The result is a story that is both entertaining and enlightening. Marmen are often used to teach children important life lessons. In "Cinderella," for example, the young heroine learns that hard work and perseverance will ultimately be rewarded. In "Hansel and Gretel," the children learn the importance of not straying from the path. While Marchen are often associated with children, they can be enjoyed by adults as well. In fact, many of the most famous Marchen were originally written for adults. "Snow White," for example, was first published in 1812 as a children's book. It wasn't until 1854 that it was adapted into the familiar fairy tale we know today. If you're interested in writing your own Marchen, the best place to start is with a classic fairy tale. Read as many as you can and pay attention to the elements that make them so captivating. Then, let your imagination run wild and see where it takes you.