Snow White: Grimm vs Disney - Key Differences

Element	Grimm Version	Disney Version
Mother/Stepmother	Biological mother dies; cruel stepmother with magic mirror arrives. Obsessed with being “fairest of all.”	Evil stepmother (Queen) jealous of Snow White; magic mirror present.
Tone	Dark, dramatic, violent. Queen attempts murder three times, uses deathly tricks (bodice, comb, poisoned apple). Punishment is severe (red-hot iron shoes).	Dark moments softened; only poisoned apple incident. Queen’s death is implied, less gruesome.
Snow White	Young, innocent, aware of danger, but must survive real mortal threats.	Kind, naïve, sings and interacts cheerfully with animals; less aware of danger.
Dwarfs	Skilled miners, practical and cautious; housekeepers to Snow White.	Cheerful, whimsical, mostly comic relief; no mining emphasized.
Prince	Encounters Snow White later; her revival is accidental (poison dislodged), not a magical kiss.	Prince actively revives Snow White with a romantic kiss.
Justice	Evil punished severely; stepmother dies horribly at the wedding.	Evil punished indirectly or mildly; less focus on gruesome retribution.
Moral Tone	Beauty and innocence are precious; envy and cruelty are met with harsh justice.	Kindness and inner beauty rewarded; dark consequences downplayed.