THE FOUR STORY GROUPS.
Thus the stories fall into four groups. The First Group comprises The Seven Little Goats, The Star Dollars, Red Riding Hood, Sweet Rice Porridge, Mother Frost, and Rose-Red and Snow-White. These stories are confined chiefly to the home circle and deal with the relation of parent and child.
The Second Group is The Cock and the Hen, The Death of the Cock, and Birdie and Lena. These are partly inside and partly outside the family circle. There is contact with persons outside the home.
The Third Group is The Wolf and the Fox, The Street Musicians, The Straw, The Coal and the Bean, The Wonderful Traveler, and Cinderella. This group extends the relationship further into the external world.
Lastly, in the story of Hans and the Four Big Giants, the horizon is widened so as to include the separation from the home and an independent career among strangers. The Fir Tree is added for use as a Christmas story for those who desire it. In fact, many of the stories could be taken out of their order and be used as introductions to the study of the seasons. The Cock and the Hen is an autumn story, while several others might be used as dealing with spring time.
III.