Onceuponatime,aqueenwasdoingneedleworkwhilestaringoutsideherwindowatthebeautifulsnow.Itwasbecauseofherdistractedstatethatsheprickedherfingeronherneedleandadropofbloodfellonsomesnowthathadfallenonherwindowstill.Asshelookedatthebloodonthesnowshesaidtoherself,"OhhowIwishthatIhadadaughterthathadskinwhiteassnow,lipsredasblood,andhairblackasebony".Soonafterthat,thequeengavebirthtoababygirlwhohadskinwhiteassnow,lipsredasblood,andhairblackasebony.TheynamedherPrincessSnowWhite,butsadly,thequeendiedaftergivingbirthtoSnowWhite.Later,thekingtakesanewwifewhoisbeautifulbutveryproud,andpossessesevilpowers.Shealsopossessesamagicmirror,towhomshewouldoftenask"Mirror,mirroronthewall,who'sthefairestofthemall?",andtowhichthemirrorwouldalwaysreply,"Youare".ButsoonafterSnowWhitebecomesseven(whichistheofficialagethatagirlbecomesamaiden)whensheaskshermirror,itresponds,"Queen,you'rethefairestwhereyouare,butSnowWhiteismorebeautifulbyfar".

　　TheQueenisjealous,andordersahuntsmantotakeSnowWhiteintothewoodstobekilled.ShedemandsthatthehuntsmanreturnwithSnowWhite'slungsandliverasproof.ThehuntsmantakesSnowWhiteintotheforest,butfindshimselfunabletokillthegirl.Instead,heletshergo,andbringsthequeenthelungsandliverofawildboar.(IntheDisneymovie,thesearereplacedbyaheart.)

　　SnowWhitediscoversatinycottageintheforest,belongingtosevendwarfs,wheresherests.Meanwhile,theQueenaskshermirroronceagain,"Who'sthefairestofthemall?",andishorrifiedwhenthemirrortellsherthatSnowWhite,whoisaliveandwellandlivingwiththedwarfs,isstillthefairestofthemall.

　　ThreetimestheQueendisguisesherselfandvisitsthedwarves'cottagewhereSnowWhiteisstayingtotrytokillher.First,disguisedasapeddler,theQueenofferscolorfulstay-lacesandlacesSnowWhiteupsotightshefaintsandtheQueentakesherfordead.SnowWhiteisrevivedbythedwarveswhentheyloosenthelaces.NexttheQueendressedasadifferentoldwomancombsherhairwithapoisonedcomb.SnowWhiteagaincollapses,andagainthedwarvessaveher.LastlytheQueenmakesapoisonapple,andintheguiseofacountrywomanoffersittoSnowWhite.Sheishesitant,sotheQueencutstheappleinhalf,eatsthewhitepart—whichhasnopoison—andgivesthepoisonedredparttoSnowWhite.Sheeatstheappleeagerlyandimmediatelyfallsintoadeep,magicalsleep.Whenthedwarfsfindher,theycannotreviveher;andsotheymournandplaceherinaglasscoffin,thinkingthatshehasdied.(TheDisneyversiononlyadoptsthepoisonappleplot,andthequeenmeetsherdemiseassheischasedbythedwarves.)

　　Timepasses,andaprincetravelsthroughthelandandseesSnowWhiteinhercoffin.Theprinceisenchantedbyherbeautyandinstantlyfallsinlovewithher.Hebegsthedwarfstolethimhavethecoffin.Theprinceandhismencarrythecoffinaway,butastheygotheystumble,thecoffinjerksandthepieceofpoisonapplefliesoutofSnowWhite'smouth,awakeningher.Theprincethendeclareshisloveandsoonaweddingisplanned.(IntheDisneyversion,thecureforthisdeepsleepwaslove'sfirstkiss.ThePrincetakesarevivedSnowWhiteaway,andthefilmends.)

　　ThevainQueen,stillbelievingthatSnowWhiteisdead,againaskshermirrorwhoisfairestinthelandandyetagainthemirror