In the Brothers Grimm tale “Snow White,” the evil queen consults a magic mirror about her beauty.
The mirror answers her repeated question about who is the fairest woman in the land. At first, it confirms the queen’s belief that she is the most beautiful. Later, it tells her that Snow White has surpassed her, making the queen jealous and hostile.
The mirror is one of the best-known elements associated with Snow White, although different retellings phrase its response differently. The Grimms’ version, published in “Children’s and Household Tales,” does not use exactly the same wording as every modern film or translation.
The queen is sometimes called Snow White’s stepmother in modern summaries, but the Grimms’ text presents her as the girl’s mother. The story also includes the poisoned apple, the seven dwarfs’ cottage, and Snow White’s eventual revival.