In the Brothers Grimm tale “Sleeping Beauty,” what causes the princess to fall into her enchanted sleep?

In the Brothers Grimm tale “Sleeping Beauty,” the princess falls into enchanted sleep after pricking her finger on a spindle.

At her christening, a wise woman predicts that the girl will die after touching a spindle. Another wise woman softens the prophecy, changing death into a long sleep. The king therefore orders every spindle in the kingdom destroyed, but the princess later discovers one in a secluded room.

The prick fulfills the prophecy when she reaches for the spindle. The sleep then spreads through the palace, leaving the royal household motionless. In the Grimms’ version, the castle becomes surrounded by a dense hedge of thorns.

The story is often confused with Snow White because both heroines are associated with enchanted sleep. However, Snow White’s sleep follows the poisoned apple, while Sleeping Beauty’s begins with the spindle.