In every fairy tale, there are events that can be described as cruel. Some contain quite a bit of this, such as the Grimms' "Von dem Machandelboom," and are therefore avoided. In others, concerning passages have been removed for 'child-friendly' editions. Is this sensible or rather a misunderstanding? The seemingly external events in the fairy tales hold validity in a metaphorical sense; they are images of inner occurrences. The fairy tales examined in this volume make it clear: what appears gruesome and unbearable in them is part of the crisis of the events; it becomes the low point of the trial that must be endured. Can and should such fairy tales be presented to children, and at what age? From the content - Silvia Studer-Frangi: Threatening Existence - Angelika Schmucker: Passage Through the Null Point. - King Lindwu.