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About this quote

What does it mean?
Carlin makes a dark joke implying the gingerbread house was a trap discovered after the children had already encountered mushrooms.
In plain terms
The kids found the dangerous house after they found the mushrooms.
What can you take from it?
Small details in stories can change the meaning.

Where it applies

  • reading fairy tales
  • comedy writing
  • story analysis

Putting it to work

  • notice narrative order
  • spot hidden dangers
  • use timing in jokes

Questions to consider

  • What happens when stories are reinterpreted?
  • How does timing change meaning?

Another view

The joke relies on dark assumptions not in the original tale.

More from George Carlin

  1. The seven dwarfs were each on different little trips. Happy was into grass and grass alone : Happy, that's all he did. Sleepy was into reds. Grumpy, too much s…

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  2. I would never want to be a member of a group whose symbol was a man nailed to two pieces of wood.

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  3. Don't give your money to the church. They should be giving their money to you.

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