History Main / TheHedgeOfThorns

* In Creator/NeilGaiman's ''Literature/{{Stardust}}'' there is a stone wall dividing human world from the world of Faerie. It is not easy to get through and it has an enchanted forest behind it, though it is not literally a hedge (however, interestingly, the surname of the main character [[spoiler:who is a half-fairy,]] is 'Thorn').

* ''{{Willow}}'' uses some magic to burn a hole through the otherwise impassible wall of brambles.

The Hedge is most often a home for various forms of life, whether carnivorous or not. Sometimes it's a kingdom in-and-of itself, being ruled by an {{Overlord}}, [[VainSorceress Sorceress]], Bandit King or similar character. Outside of the previously stated genre, the Hedge can be a torturously difficult [[TheMaze labyrinth]] made from plants and fugi, or a hideaway for smaller characters against the BigBad.

* ''WorldOfWarcraft'' has a pair of dungeons called Razorfen Kraul and Razorfen Downs that are both built under a network of huge, thorny trunks. The occupants aren't [[TheFairFolk faeries]], though: they're [[AlwaysChaoticEvil savage]] [[PigMan boar-people]], and the thorns aren't all that difficult for a player to get through.

* The magical hedge surrounding the Beast's abode in ''KingsQuestVI''.

* SleepingBeauty's castle is surrounded by roses. Many princes have met miserable ends in them.

* In {{Neil Gaiman}}'s ''Literature/{{Stardust}}'' there is a stone wall dividing human world from the world of Faerie. It is not easy to get through and it has an enchanted forest behind it, though it is not literally a hedge (however, interestingly, the surname of the main character [[spoiler:who is a half-fairy,]] is 'Thorn').

"This is not the way that things end when they get to be tales," Amatus said, "but since ours is not told yet, we cannot count on it. There were a hundred dead princes on the thorns outside SleepingBeauty's castle, and I'm sure many of them were splendid fellows."''

[[quoteright:233:[[Disney/SleepingBeauty http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/sleeping_beauty_thorns_1493.bmp]]]]

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* In {{Neil Gaiman}}'s ''{{Stardust}}'' there is a stone wall dividing human world from the world of Faerie. It is not easy to get through and it has an enchanted forest behind it, though it is not literally a hedge (however, interestingly, the surname of the main character [[spoiler:who is a half-fairy,]] is 'Thorn').

->''"This is not how these tales end," Calliope said firmly.\\

* ''{{Rapunzel}}'' has thorn bushes growing at the base of the tower, on which the prince is blinded near the end of the story.

* CastleWaiting is sealed off by one of these. Fortunately a tunnel has been cut through, although it's still an unpleasant experience thanks to the skeletons of people who didn't make it through still caught up in it.

* The Hedge from ''ChangelingTheLost'', which is the border between the "real world" and the fae world of Arcadia (not in any way to be confused with [[{{Arcadia}} the trope of the same name]]). There are actual thorns and a wide variety of other dangerous features, including living creatures, and it's generally an unhealthy place to be. Oh, and getting dragged through those thorns as a human rips your soul to pieces, which you then ([[UnreliableNarrator possibly]]) only gather together once you escape from Arcadia.

The Hedge is most often a home for various forms of life, whether carnivorous or not. Sometimes it's a kingdom in-and-of itself, being ruled by an {{Overlord}}, [[VainSorceress Sorceress]], Bandit King or similar character. Outside of the previously stated genre, the Hedge can be a torturously difficult labyrinth made from plants and fugi, or a hideaway for smaller characters against the BigBad.

''Metaphorically'', however, the Hedge of Thorns can stand for something that tears at the psyche as well as the body of anyone who tries to get through it (fairies often are linked to madness). It also acts as a test of character, since it can stand between the Hero(ine) and the [[TheBrightCastle Bright Castle]] that holds what (s)he seeks. Usually the ordeal of the Hedge, as previously stated, is one of mental endurance and brinking on insanity, since it questions one's principals and bravery, as well as capability to adapt to the harshness of the reality that exists within the Hedge.

[[quoteright:233:[[SleepingBeauty http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/sleeping_beauty_thorns_1493.bmp]]]]

''Metaphorically'', however, the Hedge of Thorns can stand for something that tears at the psyche as well as the body of anyone who tries to get through it (fairies often are linked to madness). It also acts as a test of character, since it can stand between the Hero(ine) and the BrightCastle that holds what (s)he seeks. Usually the ordeal of the Hedge, as previously stated, is one of mental endurance and brinking on insanity, since it questions one's principals and bravery, as well as capability to adapt to the harshness of the reality that exists within the Hedge.

The Hedge is most often a home for various forms of life, whether carnivorous or not. Sometimes it's a kingdom in-and-of itself, being ruled by an Overlord, Enchantress, Bandit King or similar character. Outside of the previously stated genre, the Hedge can be a torturously difficult labyrinth made from plants and fugi, or a hideaway for smaller characters against the BigBad.

* In {{Neil Gaiman}}'s '{{Stardust}}' there is a stone wall dividing human world from the world of Faerie. It is not easy to get through and it has an enchanted forest behind it, though it is not literally a hedge (though, interestingly, the surname of the main character [[spoiler:who is a half-fairy,]]is 'Thorn').

* The Hedge from ''ChangelingTheLost'', which is the border between the "real world" and the fae world of Arcadia (not in any way to be confused with [[{{Arcadia}} the trope of the same name]]). There are actual thorns and a wide variety of other dangerous features, including living creatures, and it's generally an unhealthy place to be.

* The Hedge from ''ChangelingTheLost'', which is the border between the "real world" and the fae world of Arcadia (not in any way to be confused with [[{{Arcadia}} the trope of the same name]]). There are actual thorns and a wide variety of other dangerous features, including living creatures, and it's generally an unhealthy place to be.

* The UrExample is the thorn bushes growing around the castle in ''Disney/SleepingBeauty''.
* ''{{Rapunzel}}'' has thorn bushes growing at the base of the tower, on which the prince is blinded near the end of the story.

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