Available Variants
Beauty and the Beast
A merchant with three daughters lost his fortune. Traveling to reclaim his wealth, he took shelter in a magnificent palace where invisible servants attended him. As he left, he picked a rose for his youngest daughter, Beauty. A terrifying Beast appeared and demanded his life or one of his daughters in exchange.
Beauty went to the palace willingly. The Beast treated her with kindness, giving her every comfort and asking each evening, 'Will you marry me?' She refused but grew fond of him. When she returned from a visit home and found the Beast dying of a broken heart, she wept and said she would marry him. Her tears broke the curse, and the Beast transformed into a handsome prince.
Field Notes
My Folklore Journal
Record your thoughts, motifs you noticed, or personal connections to this tale.
The most famous version was written by Gabrielle-Suzanne de Villeneuve in 1740 and abridged by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont in 1756.
Frequently Asked Questions
Editorial Review
Reviewed by
Dr. Eleanor Vance, Folklore Studies
Last updated
April 1, 2026
Sources & References
- 1.Aarne, A. & Thompson, S. — The Types of the Folktale (1961)
- 2.Lindahl, C. — European Folklore: An Encyclopedia (2004)
- 3.Dorson, R. — Peasant Customs and Savage Myths (1968)
Community Discussion
I love how this variant emphasizes the role of the magical helper. It's so different from the version I grew up with!
The ATU 510A classification really helps in seeing the structural similarities with Ye Xian. Fascinating stuff.
