Rapunzel by Paul O. Zelinsky

Rapunzel by Paul O. Zelinsky

*Review created for Texas Woman’s University graduate level class*

1.       BIBLIOGRAPHY

Zelinsky, Paul O. 1997. RAPUNZEL. New York, New York. Dutton Children’s Books. ISBN 0-525-45607-4

2.       SUMMARY

After a couple finally conceives, the wife is consumed with cravings for rapunzel, a leafy herb in her neighbor’s garden.  The neighbor, a sorceress, finds the husband stealing the rapunzel and demands the couples’ child in payment.  Afraid for the safety of his wife, the husband agrees to the witch’s demands.  The sorceress takes the child, and raises her, calling her Rapunzel.  Eventually Rapunzel is locked in a tower, deep in the woods, where a young prince hears her singing.  The prince learns how the witch gets into the tower and the two meet, fall in love, and marry.  The witch eventually learns of the deception and casts the pregnant Rapunzel to live in the wilderness.  The witch then tricks and blinds the handsome prince.  The prince and Rapunzel are reunited and her tears of joy heal the princes’ eyes.  They make their way to his kingdom where their family lives happily ever after. 

3.       CRITICAL ANALSIS

The author brings to life the beloved fairy tale Rapunzel.  Rapunzel and the handsome prince are the innocent and unfortunate victims of the evil sorceress.  The characters are typical of fairy tales, with the protagonists described as beautiful, innocent, and void of wrongdoing.  The sorceress is seen as evil and a trickster, such as when she cuts Rapunzel’s hair and fastens it to the window hook.  When the young prince calls to his wife, “Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair!” the prince is shocked to see the sorceress.  The plot moves along quickly, and is filled with enough action to catch any child’s attention. 

The settings vary in the story; we first see a villa overlooking a beautiful garden; other settings include a tower, a vast wilderness, as well as the prince’s kingdom.  The different settings help readers to understand the plight of the characters.  The beautifully done illustrations help present the different settings, as well as the passing of time.  The author describes how the sorceress cared for the baby Rapunzel, how she grew into a beautiful child, and describes how she sent her away to the tower when she turned twelve, all within three sentences.  The illustrations help move the story along, and provide an added dimension to the story, such as the hardship Rapunzel and the prince face in the wilderness, or the shock Rapunzel experiences when she meets the prince for the first time.  The author describes the dilemma Rapunzel faces and, the when the couple is reunited.  Good triumphing over evil, after a long period of struggle is sure to please any reader.  The illustrations help provide clues to the culture in which the story is set; the villas, and architecture is reminiscent of Italy.    The author also includes a note describing the different tales of Rapunzel; “Persinette” a German version, as well as “Petrosinella” a French version of the tale.  Each tale has different settings and variations in the plot.  Children and adults will enjoy the beautifully rendered illustrations and the rich text.  After all, “they lived a long life, happy and content.” 

4.       REVIEWS

Winner of the Caldecott Medal.
"grandly evocative, composed and executed with superb technical and emotional command." Kirkus Reviews

5.       CONNECTIONS

Read Rumplestiltskin by Paul O. Zelinsky and other books written or illustrated by him.

Read the Grimm’s version of Rapunzel and explore the similarities and differences. 

Watch the Disney version of Rapunzel, Tangled, and discuss. 

Works Cited

Kirkus Reviews. "Rapunzel." Accessed June 23, 2012. http://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/paul-o-zelinsky/rapunzel-4/#review.