Where does the Beauty and the Beast story come from?
The story of Beauty and the Beast is a well-known fairy tale that has been retold and adapted countless times since it was first published in 1740. It is based on a 9th century French folk tale, but has also been influenced by other European stories, including the Italian story of Cupid and Psyche. The original story follows the tale of a merchant who is tricked by a magical beast into giving up his daughter in exchange for his own life. The daughter, Beauty, then agrees to live with the beast in his castle, eventually discovering his true identity and falling in love with him. Keywords: Beauty and the Beast, fairy tale, 1740, French, European, Cupid and Psyche, merchant, magical beast, castle.