In the Brothers Grimm tale “Snow White,” seven dwarfs live in the forest cottage.
The dwarfs discover Snow White after she flees from the queen, who is jealous of her beauty. They allow her to stay with them while they work in a mine during the day. In return, Snow White keeps house and prepares their meals.
The number seven is part of the tale’s familiar identity, although the dwarfs are not individually named in the Grimm text. Their names—such as Doc, Grumpy, Happy, and Sleepy—come from later adaptations, especially Walt Disney’s 1937 animated film.
The Grimm story appeared in the first edition of Kinder- und Hausmärchen in 1812. Its German title is “Schneewittchen.” The tale is sometimes confused with later film versions, which add songs, personal names, and other details not found in the original collection.