Prunella (fairy tale) facts for kids

Prunella is a classic Italian fairy tale. It was collected by Andrew Lang in his book The Grey Fairy Book. This story is known as Aarne-Thompson type 310, which is about a maiden (a young girl) kept as a captive. Another version of the tale can be found in A Book of Witches by Ruth Manning-Sanders.

A similar story, called Prezzemolina, was included by Italo Calvino in his book Italian Folktales. He found this version in Florence, but similar tales are told all over Italy. Many fairy tales feature a captor who gives impossible tasks and someone (often the captor's child) who helps the captive. Examples include Nix Nought Nothing and The Master Maid. What makes "Prunella" special is that the captive is a girl and the helper is the captor's son.

The Story of Prunella

A Girl Named Prunella

There once was a girl who went to school every day. On her way, she would pick a plum from a tree. Because of this habit, people started calling her "Prunella." However, the plum tree belonged to a mean witch. One day, the witch caught Prunella. The witch then kept Prunella as her captive.

Impossible Tasks

One day, the witch gave Prunella a basket and told her to fill it with water from the well. But the basket had holes, so the water kept leaking out. Prunella started to cry. A handsome young man appeared and asked her what was wrong. He told her he was Bensiabel, the witch's son. He offered to fill the basket if she kissed him. Prunella refused because he was a witch's son. Even so, Bensiabel filled the basket with water for her.

Later, the witch left and told Prunella to make bread from wheat. Prunella knew this was an impossible task. She tried for a while, then started to cry again. Bensiabel appeared once more. Prunella still refused to kiss him. But Bensiabel kindly made the bread for her.

A Dangerous Journey

Finally, the witch sent Prunella on a very dangerous trip. She had to go over the mountains to get a special casket from the witch's sister. The witch knew her sister was even crueler and would likely starve Prunella to death. Bensiabel told Prunella about the danger and offered to save her if she kissed him. She still refused.

Bensiabel then gave her some helpful items: oil, bread, a rope, and a broom. He told her what to do at his aunt's house:

• Oil the gate's hinges.
• Give bread to a fierce dog.
• Give the rope to a woman trying to get water from a well using her hair.
• Give the broom to a woman trying to clean a fireplace with her tongue.

He also told her to take the casket from the cupboard and leave quickly. Prunella followed all his instructions. As she left, the witch's sister called out to everyone to stop Prunella. But they all refused because of the kindness Prunella had shown them.

The Final Challenge

The witch was furious when Prunella returned safely. She ordered Prunella to tell her which rooster crowed during the night. Prunella still wouldn't kiss Bensiabel. But he whispered to her each time, telling her if it was the yellow or the black rooster.

When the third rooster crowed, Bensiabel hesitated. He still hoped Prunella would finally kiss him. Prunella begged him to save her. At that moment, he jumped on the witch. She fell down the stairs and died. Prunella was so touched by Bensiabel's goodness. She agreed to marry him, and they lived happily ever after.

The Story of Prezzemolina

A Different Beginning

The story of Prezzemolina is a bit different. Prezzemolina was captured not because of her own actions, but because her mother had a strong craving for a fairy's parsley (prezzemolo in Italian). Her mother stole the parsley, similar to the story of Rapunzel. The girl was taken when she was going to school. This happened after the fairies sent her to tell her mother to pay what she owed. Her mother sent back a message saying the fairies should just take the girl.

Memé's Help

In this version, the hero is Memé. He is the good son of the evil fairy queen, Morgan le Fay (also known as Fata Morgana). Memé helped Prezzemolina, just like Bensiabel helped Prunella. Prezzemolina also refused to kiss him at first. The tasks Memé helped her with were different from those in the Prunella story.

Defeating the Evil Fairies

In the end, Memé and Prezzemolina worked together to defeat the evil fairies. First, they tricked and got rid of three fairy ladies in the garden house. Then, they went to a room where they blew out magic candles. These candles held the power of all the other fairies, including Morgan's. After this, Memé and Prezzemolina took over everything that belonged to the fairies. They got married and lived happily in Morgan's palace. They were very kind to the servants who had not attacked Prezzemolina, even when Morgan ordered them to.

Images for kids

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  The witch's son, Belebon, draws water to fill Fragolette's basket. Illustration from Derniers Contes Bleus (1884).

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  Belebon gives Fragolette items to clear the way to Viperine's house: an oil can, bread, a cord and a little broom. Illustration from Derniers contes Bleus (1884).