Able Quote by Jane Yolen
“A mist. A great mist. It covered the entire kingdom. And everyone in it - the good people and the not so good, the young people and the not-so-young, and even Briar Rose's mother and father fell asleep. Everyone slept: lords and ladies, teacher and tummlers, dogs and doves, rabbits and rabbitzen and all kinds of citizens. So fast asleep they were, they were not able to wake up for a hundred years.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Briar Rose by Jane Yolen, 1992
A pervasive enchantment puts an entire kingdom into a deep, century‑long slumber, affecting all classes and creatures alike.
In simple terms: A kingdom is enchanted into a long sleep.
Key Takeaway
Recognize that widespread problems can affect everyone, not just a few.
Themes
fairy tale
sleep
enchantment
collective experience
Mood
melancholic
reflective
Type
narrative
allegorical
When to use this quote
- kingdom under curse
- generational trauma
- awakening after long dormancy
- community resilience
Key Concepts
magical realism
social inertia
Questions to Reflect On
- What modern “mist” keeps societies asleep?
- How can we awaken collective awareness?
A Different Perspective
The metaphor may oversimplify complex societal issues by suggesting a single cause.
