The Ear of Corn (fairy tale) facts for kids
The Ear of Corn (also known as Die Kornähre in German) is a short fairy tale collected by the famous Brothers Grimm. It is story number 194 in their collection of tales. This story is classified as Aarne-Thompson-Uther Index type 779, which means it's about "Divine Rewards and Punishments." It teaches us a lesson about how we should value what we have.
What Happens in the Story?
This fairy tale tells us about a time long ago when corn (which is often wheat in Europe) used to grow with many, many more grains on each ear. It was a time of great abundance.
One day, a powerful being saw something that made them very upset. They saw a woman using the precious grains of corn not as food, but to clean her son who was covered in mud. This act showed a great lack of respect for the food.
Because of this wasteful act, the powerful being became very angry. They decided to punish everyone by taking away most of the grain. They declared that people were not worthy of such a plentiful harvest anymore.
However, some people who were watching pleaded for mercy. They especially asked for kindness because of the children, who would suffer from less food. Listening to their pleas, the powerful being decided to be a little less strict. Instead of taking all the grain away, they allowed the corn to grow with the amount of grain we see today. This story reminds us to appreciate our food and not waste it.
Why Is It Called "The Ear of Corn"?
You might hear this story called "The Ear of Corn" or sometimes "The Ear of Wheat." This is because the word "corn" can mean different things in different places. In many parts of Europe, "corn" often refers to grains like wheat, barley, or rye. In other places, like America, "corn" usually means maize. Both names are correct for this tale, depending on how you understand the word "corn."
Who Were the Brothers Grimm?
The Brothers Grimm, Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, were German academics who collected and published many well-known fairy tales. They lived in the 1800s and traveled around, listening to stories told by people. They wrote these stories down so that they would not be forgotten. Their collection includes famous tales like "Cinderella," "Hansel and Gretel," and "Little Red-Cap." Their work helped preserve many traditional stories for future generations. "The Ear of Corn" is one of the shorter, lesser-known tales they collected, but it still carries an important message.
