The Old Man and his Grandson facts for kids
The Old Man and his Grandson is a German fairy tale collected by the famous Brothers Grimm. It is story number 78 in their book, Grimm's Fairy Tales. This tale is known as Aarne-Thompson type 980B, which is often called "The Wooden Bowl." It teaches an important lesson about how we treat our elders.
Contents
What Happens in the Story?
The story begins with an old man whose hands trembled because he was very old. Because his hands shook, he often spilled his soup and made a mess when he ate. His son and daughter-in-law became annoyed by this.
They decided he could no longer eat at the family table. Instead, they made him sit by the stove and eat his meals alone. One day, the old man accidentally dropped and broke the nice stoneware bowl he was using. His son and daughter-in-law then bought him a simple wooden bowl that would not break easily.
The old man's four-year-old grandson saw all of this happening. One day, the little boy was playing with pieces of wood. His father asked him what he was making. The grandson replied that he was building a small wooden trough. He said it was for his parents to eat from when they grew old, just like his grandfather.
Hearing this made the son and daughter-in-law realize their mistake. They felt very ashamed of how they had treated the old man. From that day on, they let the old man eat at the family table again. They never complained about his spills or tremors after that.
The Meaning Behind the Tale
This fairy tale teaches a powerful lesson about kindness and respect for older family members. It shows that children learn by watching their parents. If parents treat their elders poorly, their own children might do the same to them one day. The story reminds us to be patient and caring with everyone, especially those who need our help. It highlights the importance of family bonds and showing compassion.
Different Versions of the Story
Many different versions of this type of story exist around the world. While the main idea is the same, the details can change. For example, in some tales, the grandson might say he will only give his parents half a blanket when they are old. This is because the parents only gave their own elderly father half a blanket.
In other versions, the grandson might talk about carrying his father away to abandon him, just as the father did to his own parent. In one Asian version, a father weaves a basket to throw his aged father into a river. His son then asks him to bring the basket back, saying it will be useful for the father himself one day. These different versions all carry the same message: treat others as you wish to be treated.
See also
In Spanish: El plato de madera para niños
