--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every night before bed, her mother had…" description: "\"“Every night before bed, her mother had told her a story that should have been frightening: Scary Evil Queen. Huntsman ordered to cut out her heart. Lo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96d/shannon-hale-827_every-night_every-night-before-bed-her-mother-had-to_3202265.png" --- # Every night before bed, her mother had told her a story… ![“Every night before bed, her mother had told her a story that should have been frightening: Scary Evil Queen. Huntsman ordered to cut out her heart. Lost in dark woods with grabby trees. Dwarves, dwarves, more dwarves. Old peddler lady giving her a strangling ribbon. Old peddler lady giving her a…” quote by Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96d/shannon-hale-827_every-night_every-night-before-bed-her-mother-had-to_3202265.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96d/shannon-hale-827_every-night_every-night-before-bed-her-mother-had-to_3202265.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96d/shannon-hale-827_every-night_every-night-before-bed-her-mother-had-to_3202265.png) > ““Every night before bed, her mother had told her a story that should have been frightening: Scary Evil Queen. Huntsman ordered to cut out her heart. Lost in dark woods with grabby trees. Dwarves, dwarves, more dwarves. Old peddler lady giving her a strangling ribbon. Old peddler lady giving her a poisoned comb. Old peddler lady giving her a poisoned apple. Crunch. Gasp. Faint (beautifully). Dead sleep. Cold glass coffin. Empty dreams. Then… kiss. Wake. Prince! Cheering dwarves. Huge choreographed dance number. Happily Ever After.”” [Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A dark, surreal bedtime story blends horror and fairy‑tale motifs, ending with a hopeful rescue and celebration. **In simple terms:** A frightening tale turns into a hopeful ending. Key Takeaway Embrace darkness as a path to renewal. Themes fantasy darkness hope transformation Mood imaginative hopeful cathartic Type literary inspirational When to use this quote - storytelling - creative writing - therapy - nighttime routines - cultural analysis Key Concepts mythic archetypes psychological symbolism hero’s journey catharsis Questions to Reflect On - How does confronting fear in stories aid growth? - What role does humor play in dark narratives? A Different Perspective The graphic violence may be unsettling for some audiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Every night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-night/) [Evil Queen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil-queen/) [Frightening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frightening/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Queen Huntsman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/queen-huntsman-5949584/) [Scary Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scary-evil-2766188/) [Trees Dwarves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trees-dwarves-5949583/) ## Related quotes > [The unifying thread through all these different aspects of music business is just my attraction toward working with sounds and designing new scary, evil,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-clouser/the-unifying-thread-through-all-these-different-aspects-of-music/) [Charlie Clouser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-clouser/) > [As a child, I was as intrigued by the Evil Queen as I was charmed by Snow White.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephane-rolland/as-a-child-i-was-as-intrigued-by-the-evil-queen-as-i-was-charmed-by/) [Stephane Rolland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephane-rolland/) > [Evil Queen and Framboise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babloo/evil-queen-and-framboise/) [Babloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babloo/) > [I'm rather hoping to find the Evil Queen. I think she'd be much more fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jude-deveraux/i-m-rather-hoping-to-find-the-evil-queen-i-think-she-d-be-much-more/) [Jude Deveraux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jude-deveraux/) > [I've been performing my whole life. My mom signed me up for a theater program when I was five - I was the evil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilla-crawford/i-ve-been-performing-my-whole-life-my-mom-signed-me-up-for-a-theater/) [Lilla Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilla-crawford/) > [“You might think you’re the villain in my story, Lux, but what you don’t seem to realize is that I don’t care . Princess…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-johnson/you-might-think-you-re-the-villain-in-my-story-lux-but-what-you-don-t-2/) [Julie Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-johnson/) > [The evil queen was stupid to play Snow White's game. There's an age where a woman has to move on to another kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/the-evil-queen-was-stupid-to-play-snow-white-s-game-there-s-an-age/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [I guess my favourite Disney film was 'Snow White,' which has a really dark moment when the evil queen turns into a witch and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-mccartney/i-guess-my-favourite-disney-film-was-snow-white-which-has-a-really/) [Stella McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-mccartney/) > [“The villains had seen better days. Cruella, with her wild black-and-white hair, wore a ratty, nearly bald black-and-white dog-fur coat, which sported a bejeweled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney-company/the-villains-had-seen-better-days-cruella-with-her-wild-black-and/) [Walt Disney Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney-company/) > [Once upon a time, in a magical kingdom known as Andalasia, there lived an evil queen. Selfish and cruel, she lived in fear that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enchanted/once-upon-a-time-in-a-magical-kingdom-known-as-andalasia-there-lived/) [Enchanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enchanted/) > [“You might think you’re the villain in my story, Lux, but what you don’t seem to realize is that I don’t care . Princess…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-johnson/you-might-think-you-re-the-villain-in-my-story-lux-but-what-you-don-t/) [Julie Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-johnson/) > [“A villain is a victim who's story hasn't been told." - The Evil Queen”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-colfer-the-land-of-stories/a-villain-is-a-victim-who-s-story-hasn-t-been-told-the-evil-queen/) [Chris Colfer The Land of Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-colfer-the-land-of-stories/) > [Waiting for Prince Charming?" "Aren't all women? And you're waiting for Cinderella." "Actually," Jared said slowly, "I'm rather hoping to find the Evil Queen.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jude-deveraux/waiting-for-prince-charming-aren-t-all-women-and-you-re-waiting-for/) [Jude Deveraux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jude-deveraux/) > [“If this is what the world has labelled me, then that is the name I shall learn to live with,' the Evil Queen said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-colfer/if-this-is-what-the-world-has-labelled-me-then-that-is-the-name-i/) [Chris Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-colfer/) > [“I believe that in a way, sadness is happiness for there can be no wrong without right, no light without dark, no success without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-cander/i-believe-that-in-a-way-sadness-is-happiness-for-there-can-be-no/) [Lisa Cander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-cander/) ## More by Shannon Hale > [“Well, write me into the list of Those Who Don’t Mind a Bit,” said Cupid, eyeing his perfectly toned arms and chest. “My, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/well-write-me-into-the-list-of-those-who-don-t-mind-a-bit-said-cupid/) [Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/) > [“Sometimes instinct isn't fancy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/sometimes-instinct-isn-t-fancy/) [Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/) > [Enna leaned back her head and laughed at the sky. 'Of course he wasn't! Who could kill Razo?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/enna-leaned-back-her-head-and-laughed-at-the-sky-of-course-he-wasn-t/) [Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/) > [“Um… I guess that’s that,” said Cerise. “That?” said Maddie. “That is never that. This is that. Or else that is this. And this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/um-i-guess-that-s-that-said-cerise-that-said-maddie-that-is-never/) [Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/) > [The book smelled dusty and old but also carried a sweet tang, a hint of something inviting. She opened to the first page and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/the-book-smelled-dusty-and-old-but-also-carried-a-sweet-tang-a-hint/) [Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/) > [Geric," she called. He turned back around. "What kind of flowers were they?" "I don't rightly know," he said. He made faltering gestures with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/geric-she-called-he-turned-back-around-what-kind-of-flowers-were-they/) [Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/) > [How I keep trying to force our story into a fairy tale, but from the beginning, it's been more like a nursery rhyme." "Bizarre…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/how-i-keep-trying-to-force-our-story-into-a-fairy-tale-but-from-the/) [Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/) > [“He wildly combed his hair with his fingers. “I can’t bear to be out there with you right now, all those indifferent people watching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/he-wildly-combed-his-hair-with-his-fingers-i-can-t-bear-to-be-out/) [Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/) > [But, how do you know if an ending is truly good for the characters unless you've traveled with them through every page?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/but-how-do-you-know-if-an-ending-is-truly-good-for-the-characters/) [Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/) > [“Sometimes it seems my identity’s a matter of opinion”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/sometimes-it-seems-my-identity-s-a-matter-of-opinion/) [Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/) > [The snow was too light to stay, the ground too warm to keep it. And the strange spring snow fell only in that golden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/the-snow-was-too-light-to-stay-the-ground-too-warm-to-keep-it-and-the/) [Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/) > [Even the jerks earn some of our affection. We can be glad they're gone and yet still mourn the good parts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/even-the-jerks-earn-some-of-our-affection-we-can-be-glad-they-re-gone/) [Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/) > [Smell is the voice of the soul...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/smell-is-the-voice-of-the-soul/) [Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/) > [“It was my jewelry!” Briar shouted after his father because he’d forgotten to ask what was stolen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/it-was-my-jewelry-briar-shouted-after-his-father-because-he-d/) [Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/) > [Oh, but I like my geese. Like cats, they can't be told what to do, and like dogs, they're loyal, and like people, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/oh-but-i-like-my-geese-like-cats-they-can-t-be-told-what-to-do-and/) [Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/) [Explore all 358 Shannon Hale quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/) ## More Every night quotes > [“I practice Dying--every night-- But have not learned to, still-- Though Talented--by Mortal bones-- For such a common Skill.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-powers/i-practice-dying-every-night-but-have-not-learned-to-still-though/) [Alan W. Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-w-powers/) > [“You can date every girl in town as far as I’m concerned. I hate you. I pray every night that you’ll fall victim to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-harrington/you-can-date-every-girl-in-town-as-far-as-i-m-concerned-i-hate-you-i/) [Kim Harrington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-harrington/) > [“Maybe I'd absorbed the capacity to hurt someone by listening to my parents every night, who were under the impression that turning the volume…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-yu/maybe-i-d-absorbed-the-capacity-to-hurt-someone-by-listening-to-my/) [Charles Yu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-yu/) > [I'm always looking at new ways to tell a joke so that it doesn't get stale while working on new jokes every night or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-burr/i-m-always-looking-at-new-ways-to-tell-a-joke-so-that-it-doesn-t-get/) [Bill Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burr/) > [“When at last we arrived in Mannheim, I found that my apartment had been rented to a family whose young son was an amputee.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/captain-hank-bracker-suppresed-i-rise/when-at-last-we-arrived-in-mannheim-i-found-that-my-apartment-had/) [Captain Hank Bracker, "Suppresed I Rise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/captain-hank-bracker-suppresed-i-rise/) > [I don't know if I've come of age, but I'm certainly older now. I feel shrunken, as if there's a tiny ancient Oliver Tate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-dunthorne/i-don-t-know-if-i-ve-come-of-age-but-i-m-certainly-older-now-i-feel/) [Joe Dunthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-dunthorne/) > [“It suddenly seemed to Laurel that all the absences in her own life, every loss and sadness, every nightmare in the dark, every unexplained…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-morton/it-suddenly-seemed-to-laurel-that-all-the-absences-in-her-own-life/) [Kate Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-morton/) > [“Her silent singing wrapped around the story she was telling herself, which she extended further every night on the deck. (Averill often told herself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/her-silent-singing-wrapped-around-the-story-she-was-telling-herself/) [Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/) > [“I have heard several people justify working long hours and getting home from work late it night by saying things like, “I have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-willey/i-have-heard-several-people-justify-working-long-hours-and-getting/) [Daniel Willey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-willey/) > [Every night I go to sleep smiling, even when I have a bad day. I'm just thankful that God allowed me to live it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-night-i-go-to-sleep-smiling-even-when-i-have-a-bad-day-i-m-just/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I'm going to lay it out straight for you here, Carson. And the reason that I'm going to do that is because I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-sheridan/i-m-going-to-lay-it-out-straight-for-you-here-carson-and-the-reason/) [Mia Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-sheridan/) > [I do remember what I said. The promise. To protect her. If I'd done that ... even if I didn't make it, you wouldn't've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/i-do-remember-what-i-said-the-promise-to-protect-her-if-i-d-done-that/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [“It’s a red sky every night with Cosmic Ordering.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-richards/it-s-a-red-sky-every-night-with-cosmic-ordering/) [Stephen Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-richards/) > [“What does it say?" asked my lord. "It says, 'Good-night, God keep you all the night!'--just what she used to say when we were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hodgson-burnett/what-does-it-say-asked-my-lord-it-says-good-night-god-keep-you-all/) [Frances Hodgson Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hodgson-burnett/) > [“Oh, my god, I don't know. What do you want?" "You," he said, his voice lowering an octave. "I want you, Dutch, body and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darynda-jones/oh-my-god-i-don-t-know-what-do-you-want-you-he-said-his-voice/) [Darynda Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darynda-jones/) [Browse all 2,605 Every night quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-night/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Every night before bed, her mother had told her a story that should have been frightening: Scary Evil Queen. Huntsman ordered to cut out her heart. Lost in dark woods with grabby trees. 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