Wiltrud and Scohlint, the bad witches, make Princess Röslein (or Dornröslein, “Thorn Flower”) fall asleep, along with the whole court of King Purpur and of Queen Hermelin, by pricking her finger on a distaff when she turns fifteen. The fairy Sconea mitigates the curse by promising that it will turn into a blessing. Years later, the knight Minnamunt finds the bewitched castle, defeats the giant Schlafdorn (“Sleeping Thorn”) who was guarding the gates and wakes the princess and her court.

String marionette

Young audiences

Pocci Franz von

Germany

Munich

Printed

Romanticism

Poetry

Sorcery

Philosophy

Childhood

Adult

Nature

Mechanization

Heroism

Sleep

Shakespeare

Fantasy

Humorous

Illustration by Franz von Pocci for the original edition of the play

German

Queen

Prince

Poet

Valet

Fairy

Old woman

Herald

Giant

Song

Metatheatre

Monologue

Apparition

Versified passages

Address to the public

Word for another

Talking at cross-purposes

Talking animal

Fight

Transforming scenery

Current affairs

Dornröslein

Sleeping Beauty