Gingerbread Man (fairy tale)
"The Gingerbread Man" (sometimes, "The Gingerbread Boy") is an American fairy tale. It is a variant of the European runaway pancake story. The American version first appeared in the May 1875 issue of St. Nicholas Magazine.
| "The Gingerbread Man" | |
|---|---|
_(14750511904).jpg) 1918 illustration | |
| Author | Jim Aylesworth |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Characters | Gingerbread Man Old Woman Fox |
| Genre(s) | Literary fairy tale |
| Published in | St. Nicholas Magazine |
| Publication type | Magazine |
| Media type | |
| Publication date | May 1875 |
The story tells of a Gingerbread Man who runs away from the old woman who baked him. He is chased by several people and animals. A crafty fox finally eats him. The tale is known for the title character's chant: "Run, run, run as fast as you can!/You can't catch me, I'm the Gingerbread Man!" Gingerbread men were popular characters in children's stories of the late 19th century. The most notable gingerbread character was L. Frank Baum's John Dough. The Gingerbread Man also appears in the movie Shrek.[1]
1875 story
In the 1875 St. Nicholas tale, a childless old woman bakes a gingerbread man who jumps out of the oven and runs away. The woman and her husband chase after him but are unable to catch him. The gingerbread man then outruns several farm workers, men, and animals.
- I've run away from a little old woman,
- A little old man,
- And I can run away from you, I can!
The tale ends with a fox catching and eating the gingerbread man who cries as he is devoured, "I'm quarter gone...I'm half gone...I'm three-quarters gone...I'm all gone!"[2]
Other websites
Media related to The Gingerbread Man at Wikimedia Commons
References
- ↑ "The Gingerbread Man Story: Here's the History Behind the Fairy Tale". ca.style.yahoo.com. 2023-12-05. Retrieved 2025-09-23.
- ↑ "Runaway Pancake: Folktales of Type 2025". sites.pitt.edu. Retrieved 2025-09-23.