The article explores the significant differences between contemporary fairy tales and their medieval counterparts, highlighting the darker themes of earlier narratives. Specifically, it discusses the story of Zellandine from the medieval romance "Perceforest," where a prince, Troylus, endeavors to rescue the princess from her enchanted sleep. Unlike modern retellings, this tale incorporates elements of fate and divine guidance from goddesses, reflecting a more complex and somber narrative that contrasts sharply with the sanitized fairy tales of today.
Troylus is sent on a journey by the goddess Venus, indicating that the magical cure requires him to pluck 'the fruit that holds the cure' from Zellandine's body.
The tale of Zellandine and Troylus illustrates the stark differences between romanticized modern fairy tales and their more brutal, complex medieval predecessors.
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