The Beautiful Sleeping Briar Rose Quiz

Answer: That her lips would be the color of a deep red rose

It was originally published as "La Belle au bois dormant" in 1697. In this French fairytale, the sleeping beauty has coral colored lips.

The gifts that six of the good fairies gave the princess include: 1) she would be "the most beautiful person in the world", 2) she would have the temper of an angel--or be as gentle as an angel, 3) she would do everything she did with grace, 4) she would be able to dance to perfection, 5) she would sing like a nightingale, and 6) she would play every kind of music perfectly well. So, basically, she was to be like a flawless being; not just in physical appearance either.

After the six fairies gave the presents, an old and malicious fairy came in. She had not been invited to the the princess's christening because she had not left her tower in over fifty years. Most thought that she was dead or enchanted. She spoke a curse over the princess: that she would prick her finger (or hand, which is what the text actually says) on a spindle and die. The seventh fairy had hid herself behind a curtain, because she had a feeling that the old fairy was going to curse the princess. She wanted to use her gift to help her, which she did so by declaring that she would only sleep, not die.

Answer: A frog

In the 1812 version, it was actually a crab. It was changed to the frog in the 1857 edition.

The idea of an animal prophesying the birth of the sleeping beauty is not included in either Disney's "Sleeping Beauty" or Charles Perrault's "The Sleeping Beauty in the Wood". The barrenness of the queen until the princess's birth, however, is included in all versions.

The name "Briar Rose" may also be spelled "Brier Rose," and in some translations of the Grimm story, she is called "Rosamond." In Perrault's version, the princess has no given name. However, Perrault includes a sequel-of-sorts (it's not really a sequel, just a long narrative that doesn't end with the princess marrying the prince, like in the Grimms' version), where Sleeping Beauty has a daughter named "Aurora". Disney used both names in their film, with "Briar Rose" as the title given to Aurora when the good fairies hid her in the forest.

Answer: True

Isn't that cute? But I love cats too, so I'd want a kitty and a little dog on my bed if I was sleeping for a long time.

It seems that the English translations of this originally French story vary slightly; some call the pretty little dog "Mopsey" and refer to her as a spaniel. Others leave the breed unspecified and use different names.

Other animals are mentioned in "The Sleeping Beauty in the Wood", including horses and bigger dogs that lived in the outward court.

Answer: It calls her good

In some versions of "Sleeping Beauty", even some that are based on Perrault's, such as Tchaikovsky's ballet, the evil fairy disguises herself as the old woman who offers the curious princess the spinning wheel.

However, "The Sleeping Beauty in the Wood" actually states that this elderly woman is "good" and she just never heard of the king's (Sleeping Beauty's father's) law against spindles. It even says that the woman didn't know who the princess was, and after she fell down, the old woman was horrified and ran to get help.

Answer: In Perrault's, the prince doesn't kiss the princess when he first sees her, but in Grimms', he does

In Perrault's version, there is a cute and romantic exchange between the prince and princess, but no kiss is mentioned. The prince was out hunting when he noticed a castle sorrounded by a forest--there were several rumors regarding what lived in the castle (like witches, ghosts, etc), but the prince became very happy when an old man told him that a princess lived there, waiting for the prince that she was reserved for. When he finally found her, he was amazed by her beauty and fell on his knees. She woke up, they talked for hours, were served a supper, and then got married in her castle's chapel.

The princess sleeps for a hundred years in both versions and she is around fifteen years old in both versions. In Perrault's, the fairies don't put the princess's parents under a sleeping enchantment to wake up after the hundred years, which suggests that they die. In Grimms', they are put under the enchantment and they are alive at the end of the story.

Answer: Twelve, wise women

In the 1857 edition, the fairies are called wise women, but in the original 1812 version, they're just called fairies (ironically enough).

There are thirteen of them in "Little Briar Rose": twelve good and one evil. This is different than in Perrault's "The Sleeping Beauty in the Wood," which has seven good and one evil. In both, the evil fairy shares the same role: she puts a spell over the princess out of revenge for not being invited to her christening/celebration.

Although neither Perrault's nor Grimms' stories state the wicked fairy's name, certain versions have given her the name "Carabosse." Her name is "Maleficent" in the Disney film.

Answer: Great-Grandmother

This part of the story is quite humorous. After Sleeping Beauty awakened, her beloved prince couldn't help but notice that her outfit, which included "a point band peeping over a high collar," was of the same style that his great-grandmother wore. The impression is that her dress was, frankly, outdated. The reason for this is that Sleeping Beauty was under a spell and slept for a hundred years--she didn't age, but most other things did.

I think it would have been hilarious to see her reaction if he had told her this. Would she smile and say "thank you," or would she be a little creeped out, or even insulted? At any rate, Perrault says that the prince found the princess no less beautiful nor less charming despite her style.

Answer: A thorn hedge

There were many princes who tried to find the beautiful Briar Rose, since they had heard a legend which said that a sleeping princess laid in a castle covered by the thorn hedge. But when those princes attempted to destroy the thorn hedge, they failed and suffered painful deaths. Many years later, another prince attempted--when he came close to the castle, he noticed that there was nothing but beautiful flowers covering it! He was able to enter the castle safely, but it does say that it turned back into a hedge after he entered.

In Charles Perrault's "The Sleeping Beauty in the Wood," the castle is covered in trees and bushes instead of thorns/flowers.

Answer: False

Truthfully, neither Perrault's nor Grimms' states the princess's hair color! Artistic depictions of Sleeping Beauty differ; she has been portrayed with blonde, black, brown, and/or red hair.

Possibly the most popular or well-known version--the Disney movie--gave her golden blonde hair that symbolized sunshine.

Answer: Hungary water

According to Wikipedia, Hungary water was the first European alcohol-based perfume. It possibly dates back to the 14th century. A legend states that it was created as a command from a queen of Hungary, named either Elisabeth/Elizabeth or Isabella. Queen Elizabeth of Poland (1305-1380) is often assumed to have been this queen. Apparently, it was popular all across Europe, not just in Hungary, and it was also drunk (not merely used as perfume) to receive health benefits.

As far as the fairytale goes, it says that the people splashed (regular) water on her face, unlaced her corset, struck her on her palms, and rubbed Hungary water on her temples. A few translations call it "cologne water," however. These people exclude her parents; they weren't even home when she pricked her hand.