Rapunzel
Enjoy the famous tale of Rapunzel, the girl who lived in a tower in the forest.Classic Tales is a richly illustrated full-colour English graded readers series that offers classic tales retold for primary language learners. Each story in this new edition is accompanied by e-Books, audio, and Activity Books.
Story Summary
The Lettuce Obsession
A woman becomes obsessed with eating fresh lettuces from a witch’s forbidden garden. Despite her husband’s warnings, she grows weak from refusing other food. Desperate to save his wife, the man sneaks into the witch’s garden at night to steal lettuces. When caught, the witch demands a terrible price—their firstborn child. The frightened man agrees, unaware of the consequences. This fateful decision sets the tragic events of the story in motion.
Rapunzel’s Fate
After the birth of their beautiful daughter, the witch returns to claim the child as promised. The parents beg her to take anything else, but the witch insists and takes the baby, naming her Rapunzel. The girl grows up kind and beautiful, with long golden hair. One day, the witch locks Rapunzel in a tall tower deep in the forest, with no door and only a small window. Rapunzel spends her days singing and painting, with only birds for company, unaware of the world outside.
Life in the Tower
Rapunzel lives alone in the tower, her long hair serving as the only way in or out. Each night, the witch visits, calling: "Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair!" Rapunzel obeys, lowering her golden braid for the witch to climb. One day, a prince hears Rapunzel’s beautiful singing and is captivated. He watches the witch’s routine and later mimics her call. When Rapunzel lets down her hair, the prince climbs up and meets her. They fall in love, and he visits her daily, escaping before the witch arrives.
The Witch’s Revenge
The witch discovers the prince’s visits when she sees him climbing down Rapunzel’s hair. Enraged, she cuts off Rapunzel’s golden braid and banishes her to a desert. The next day, when the prince calls for Rapunzel, the witch lowers the severed hair and reveals her cruel act. Heartbroken, the prince falls from the tower into thorns, which blind him. He wanders the forest, searching for Rapunzel, guided only by her memory and the sun’s warmth.
A Happy Ending
After years of wandering, the blind prince reaches the desert and hears Rapunzel’s singing. They reunite, and her tears of joy heal his blindness. Together, they return to the prince’s castle, marry, and live happily with Rapunzel’s parents. The witch is never seen again. Rapunzel and the prince raise two children, and her beautiful singing fills the castle once more, with birds as their constant companions. Love and kindness triumph over the witch’s cruelty.
Story Vocabulary Quiz
Loading...
Story Quiz
Rachel Bladon
A Journey through Language and Literature
Meet Rachel Bladon, a dedicated teacher, skilled editor, and prolific writer with over two decades of experience in the field of English as a Foreign Language (EFL). Her journey has taken her across continents, from Europe to Asia, where she has left an indelible mark on the world of language education.
Comments