Few people know that the popular franchise Shrek is based on a children's book written by cartoonist William Steig. In 1990, at over eighty years old, Steig published the book 'Shrek!', which received rave reviews for it's simplicity and zest for life.
This story inspired the creators of the iconic animated film, although the plot of the original tale about an ogre from a swamp, who resembles all of us after work and prefers not to socialize, differs significantly from the screen version.
What was in the book about Shrek?
In Steig's book, Shrek is a fire-breathing, green-skinned monster who takes pleasure in scaring those around him with his appearance. However, his peaceful life is disrupted when his parents decide to send him out into the world to find his own destiny. Along the way, he meets a witch who, for a handful of lice, predicts an unusual future for him: he will marry a princess even uglier than he is after defeating a knight in a castle.
Shrek goes through many dangerous adventures: he burns a dragon with his breath, ends up in a castle on a donkey, just as predicted, and ultimately meets his perfect match (local Fiona). The couple frightens everyone around them, enjoying their unconventional love.
From Book to Movie
While the book and movie differ in detail, the basic story elements remain the same. DreamWorks took Steig's idea and expanded on it, adding new and familiar fairy tale characters, deep moral questions, and making Shrek more human.
