Summary vs Analysis

Example of a summary or plot synopsis for the famous story of Hansel and Gretel:

    Hansel and Gretel is a story of two young children, a brother and sister, who come from a very poor family. Their step mother convinces their father that they must take the children deep into the forest and leave them there because there is not enough food for the four of them. On her second attempt the stepmother is successful in loosing the children in the thickest part of the forest. As the story goes, the children search for three days trying to find their way home when the stumble upon a gingerbread house. This is an encouraging site to their hungry tummies and they begin to vigorously eat the house.
    The house in all of its glory is actually a trap created to catch young children. The evil witch who built it developed a malicious plan to fatten and then eat the children. On the day the children were to be eaten, Gretel cleverly decided to push the old witch into the oven and lock the door. She released her brother Hansel and they took the dead witches precious pearls and stones. They ventured back into the forest and eventually found their way home to their father.
 
In their absence their step mother had perished. Hansel and Gretel lived happily ever after with their father and they never had to go hungry again.

Example of an analysis for the famous story of Hansel and Gretel:


    This crude and unusual story is a common and classic children’s story. It’s interesting to think that this is the type of store parents wish to read to their children due to the frightening situations and scenarios which take place. Although the end result is rather pleasant, the events leading up to it are heartbreaking and evil. The story displays the harsh reality of hard times in the 1800’s. A time when this type of situation, such as the decision Hansel and Gretel’s stepmother forced upon their father to leave them deep in the thick of the forest to be eaten by wild beasts as to prolong their own lives, may not have been to far fetched.
    It is yet another story that portrays stepmothers as being ruthless, cruel, and vengeful. Just like popular fairytales such as Cinderella and Snowhite, Hansel and Gretel creates an uneasy feeling towards stepmothers. In a society, like the one we live in today, there are many families that are mixed with a combination of stepmothers, stepfathers, step siblings, and half siblings. This makes the thought of teaching children that stepmothers are cruel a very scary thing.  Parents should think twice before they expose their children to such a wretched story that is full of death, deceit and cruelty towards children.
    A positive side to Hansel and Gretel’s story is that it demonstrates the way siblings should work together and how creative their minds can be. When Gretel pushes the old witch into the oven and releases her brother from the cage, the store is showing us how willpower can help us become stronger both physically and mentally. While this story has some very positive ideas, it is frightening for young children. Parents should consider the negative affect this story may have on their children before they expose them.

Helpful websites that explain the difference between a summary and a plot synopsis are:

http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/summary.html

http://www.westga.edu/~mhenry/summary%20vs%20analysis.htm

Resources for Images:
Ginger Bread House Picture: http://www.dinikusuma.com/pictures/2010/12/Hansel-and-Gretel-09.jpg
Witch Picture: http://crookedkitty.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/hansgretfinalfornow.jpg