Hansel and Gretel through timeThe infamous Germanic fairy tale does not begin and end solely from the pen of the Brothers Grimm. Similar to the statement “every joke has a little truth” is true for this fairy tale that has deep connections to the Middle Ages period. These stories of poverty, child abandonment, starvation and cannibalism are thought to date back to the Middle Ages, when people experienced these difficult situations authentically. The story of Hansel and Gretel is about a young brother and sister who are threatened by a cannibalistic witch living deep in the forest in a house made of cakes and sweets. The two children save their lives by foiling her. The story is storied, has adapted over the years, and been imitated by many cultures around the world. Hansel and Gretel are considered folklore, these early allegories were passed down orally from generation to generation. The fairy tale may have its origins in the medieval period of the Great Famine (1315-1321), looking more closely at the period when it began with bad weather in spring....