Märchen-Sammlung

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

23787

Title

Märchen-Sammlung

Language

de

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

A classic collection of German fairy tales by Ludwig Bechstein, featuring beloved stories like 'The Wolf and the Seven Young Goats' and 'The Little Däumling.' This volume offers timeless narratives of cleverness, morality, and adventure, perfect for readers seeking traditional folklore with a touch of whimsical charm.

Summary up to 500 words

This collection of traditional German fairy tales, compiled by Ludwig Bechstein, weaves a rich tapestry of moral lessons, magical adventures, and cautionary tales. The volume opens with 'The Wolf and the Seven Young Goats,' a classic narrative where a mother goat's warnings prove vital as the wolf disguises himself to devour her children. Through wit and the mother's intervention, sewing stones into the wolf's belly, the kids are saved, and the predator is ultimately drowned by his own greed. In 'The Smith of Jüterbog,' a skilled craftsman and loyal soldier is granted three wishes by a mysterious spirit. Despite gaining immense wealth, protection, and an endless supply of ale, the smith forgets to wish for salvation. His life becomes a cautionary tale of misplaced priorities, leading him to seek refuge in a mountain fortress after being denied entry to both heaven and hell. Similarly, 'The Bold Flute Player' explores themes of humility; a musician who discovers a hidden castle chooses to become a humble king rather than a powerful ruler, finding true contentment in justice and kindness. Animal fables also feature prominently. 'The Hare and the Fox' depicts a clever hare outsmarting a greedy fox by freezing his tail to a pond while the fox feasts on stolen bread, illustrating the triumph of wit over brute strength. 'The Little Däumling' follows the smallest of seven brothers, who, after being abandoned by their parents, uses his intelligence and magical seven-league boots to escape a cannibal, rescue his siblings from a dwarf kingdom, and eventually return home to restore family unity. In 'The Snake Crown,' a young man gains power over dwarfs by refusing their gifts until he secures his family's freedom, demonstrating that patience and self-control yield greater rewards than immediate gain. The collection concludes with 'The Corn Ears,' a theological allegory explaining the scarcity of grain. It posits that God reduced the abundance of the golden age to teach humans gratitude, contrasting a time of plenty with an era of scarcity to ensure people cherish their food. Together, these tales offer enduring wisdom on the dangers of greed, the value of humility, and the importance of family and faith.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Fairy Tales
• German Literature