The Griffin (fairy tale) facts for kids

The Griffin is a German fairy tale collected by the famous Brothers Grimm. You can find it in their well-known book, Grimm's Fairy Tales. This story is a bit like another tale called The Devil With the Three Golden Hairs. Often, tales like this one combine different parts to make a complete adventure.

The Story of The Griffin

Once upon a time, a king's daughter became very sick. A wise person said she would get better if she ate a special apple. The king made a promise: whoever brought the apple to cure his daughter would get to marry her.

A farmer had three sons. He sent his oldest son, Uele, with a basket of apples. On his way, Uele met a small iron man. The iron man asked what was in the basket. Uele lied and said, "Frogs' legs." The iron man replied, "So it is." When Uele reached the king, his basket truly held frogs' legs! The king was angry and sent him away.

The farmer then sent his second son, Seame. Seame also met the iron man. He said his basket held "Hogs' bristles." Just like Uele, his basket changed, and he was also sent away by the king.

Hans's Journey

The youngest son was named Hans. Everyone thought he was a bit silly, but he really wanted to try. His father finally let him go. When Hans met the iron man, he told the truth. He said his basket had the apples the princess needed to get well. The iron man said, "So it is." When Hans arrived at the castle, his basket was full of apples. The princess ate one and was cured!

However, the king still didn't want Hans to marry his daughter. He gave Hans another impossible task. Hans had to bring him a boat that could travel over both dry land and the sea. Hans went home and told his father.

His father sent Uele to the forest to build such a ship. The iron man appeared and asked Uele what he was making. Uele said, "Wooden bowls." And that's exactly what he made. Seame had the same problem. But when Hans told the iron man he was making a ship that could travel anywhere, he truly built such a magical boat.

The Hares and the Griffin

Next, the king told Hans to watch a hundred hares in a meadow all day. Hans did a great job and didn't lose a single one. The king then sent a maid to ask for one hare for some guests. Hans said no, but offered to give one to the king's daughter herself.

The iron man gave Hans a special whistle. This whistle could call any hare back. Hans gave a hare to the princess. But then he blew his whistle, and the hare ran right back to him!

Finally, the king sent Hans on the most dangerous task. He had to fetch a feather from the tail of a griffin. A griffin is a mythical creature, part lion and part eagle.

Meeting the Griffin's Wife

On his way, Hans met different people who needed help. A lord of a castle asked Hans to ask the griffin where his lost money chest key was. Another lord wanted to know how his sick daughter could be cured. A giant who carried people across a lake asked why he had to keep doing it.

When Hans reached the griffin's castle, he met the griffin's wife. She warned him that the griffin would eat him! But she said Hans could pull out a feather at night. Then, she would get the answers to his questions.

Hans did exactly as she said. He pulled a feather, and the griffin woke up. His wife told him that a man had been there but had left. She then repeated the questions Hans had brought. The griffin gave the answers:

• The key was in the wood house, under a log.
• A toad had made a nest in the daughter's hair, but she would get well if they removed the hair.
• The giant only needed to put someone down in the middle of the lake, and he would be free.

Hans Becomes King

Hans left and told the other lords what he had learned. They were so happy they gave him many valuable treasures. When he returned to the king, Hans said the griffin had given him these gifts.

The king became greedy and decided to go get some treasures himself. He was the first person the giant met at the lake. The giant, now knowing how to be free, put the king down in the middle of the lake, and the king drowned. Hans then married the princess and became the new king.

Adaptations

Television Shows

Parts of this story were used in an episode called "The Luck Child" from Jim Henson's TV show, The Storyteller.