Why do ogres eat their children

Overview

The concept of ogres eating their children originates from European folklore and fairy tales rather than any historical reality. Ogres first appeared in French literature during the 17th century, with the term 'ogre' possibly deriving from the Latin 'Orcus,' a god of the underworld. Charles Perrault's 1697 collection 'Histoires ou contes du temps passé' (commonly known as 'Mother Goose Tales') featured several stories with ogres, including 'Hop-o'-My-Thumb' where an ogre intends to eat seven children. This motif spread through subsequent collections, including the Brothers Grimm's 1812 'Children's and Household Tales,' which contained similar themes in stories like 'Hansel and Gretel' (though featuring a witch rather than an ogre). Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, approximately 15-20% of European ogre tales contained cannibalistic elements according to folklore scholars. These stories typically served moral purposes, warning children about dangers or illustrating consequences of disobedience.

How It Works

In folklore narratives, the mechanism of ogres eating children follows specific patterns that serve storytelling functions. Typically, the ogre's cannibalistic intentions are revealed through dialogue or actions, such as sharpening knives or discussing cooking methods. In 'Hop-o'-My-Thumb,' the ogre explicitly tells his wife he will eat the seven children for dinner. The process often involves deception, where children must outsmart the ogre to avoid being eaten, as seen when Hop-o'-My-Thumb switches the children's caps with the ogre's daughters' crowns. This narrative device creates tension and highlights themes of resourcefulness versus brute strength. The ogre's failure to eat the children usually results from their cleverness rather than external intervention. In some variants, magical elements assist the children, such as seven-league boots or enchanted objects. The cannibalism motif consistently serves to establish the ogre as an ultimate antagonist whose defeat represents the triumph of intelligence and virtue over monstrous appetites.

Why It Matters

This mythological concept matters primarily for its cultural and psychological significance rather than any factual basis. Academically, it provides insight into how societies process fears about predation, abandonment, and monstrous 'others.' The trope has influenced countless adaptations, from traditional fairy tales to modern media like the 2001 film 'Shrek,' which deliberately subverts expectations by portraying ogres sympathetically. Psychologically, such stories may help children process anxieties in controlled, symbolic ways. Culturally, these narratives have shaped Western perceptions of monstrosity and morality for centuries. The persistence of this motif demonstrates how folklore evolves while retaining core symbolic functions, making it valuable for understanding narrative traditions and their psychological underpinnings.