The Devil and his Grandmother facts for kids

1910 illustration by Albert Weisgerber

"The Devil and his Grandmother" is a classic German fairy tale collected by the famous Brothers Grimm. It's also known as "The Dragon and His Grandmother." This story is about three soldiers who make a tricky deal with a powerful, mysterious creature. They have to solve a difficult riddle to win their freedom and keep a special, magical whip.

The tale is similar to other stories where characters must solve a riddle to escape danger. It was also included in The Yellow Fairy Book by Andrew Lang. Another version of this story can be found in A Book of Dragons by Ruth Manning-Sanders.

The Story of the Soldiers

A Difficult Choice

Once upon a time, three soldiers found themselves in a tough spot. They weren't earning enough money to live, so they decided to try and leave the army. They hid in a field of corn, hoping the army would march away without them.

However, the army didn't leave. Soon, the soldiers faced a terrible choice: either starve in the field or come out and be caught. If they were caught, they would likely be punished severely.

The Mysterious Dragon's Offer

Just when things looked hopeless, a large dragon flew by. This dragon, named Westerlies, saw their trouble. He offered them a way out, but there was a catch. They had to promise to serve him for seven years. If they agreed, he would save them.

The soldiers were desperate and quickly said yes. The dragon then carried them away. But the dragon was not just any dragon; he was actually the Devil in disguise!

The Devil gave them a special whip. This whip had a magical power: it could make money for them. However, he warned them that after seven years, they would belong to him. Their only chance to be free was to guess a difficult riddle he would ask. If they guessed correctly, they would be free and could even keep the money-making whip.

Seven Years Later

Seven years passed quickly. Two of the soldiers became very worried and sad. They dreaded the thought of belonging to the Devil forever. They didn't know how they could possibly guess his riddle.

An old woman they met gave them some advice. She told them to go to a small cottage for help.

Help from an Unexpected Friend

The third soldier was different. He wasn't afraid of the riddle. He decided to follow the old woman's advice and went to the cottage. There, he met an old woman who turned out to be the devil's grandmother!

The soldier was very polite and had good manners. The Devil's grandmother liked him right away. She decided to help him and hid him safely in her cellar.

When the Devil came home, his grandmother started asking him questions. She cleverly tricked him into talking about his plans for the soldiers and the answers to his riddle. The soldier, hidden in the cellar, listened carefully and learned all the secrets.

The Riddle is Solved!

At the end of the seven years, the Devil found the soldiers. He told them he would take them to Hell and serve them a special meal there. Then, he asked his riddle: What was the meat, the silver spoon, and the wineglass for that meal?

Thanks to the Devil's grandmother, the soldiers knew the answers!

• The meat was a dead sea-cat found in the North Sea.
• The silver spoon was a whale rib.
• The wineglass was an old horse's hoof.

The soldiers gave the correct answers, one by one. Because they solved the riddle, they were no longer under the Devil's power. They were free! They also got to keep the amazing money-making whip. The soldiers lived happily ever after, rich and free from their tricky deal.