The Twelve Brothers facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Twelve Brothers |
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Illustration by Henry Justice Ford.
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| Folk tale | |
| Name | The Twelve Brothers |
| Data | |
| Aarne–Thompson grouping | ATU 451 |
| Country | Germany |
| Published in | Grimm's Fairy Tales |
"The Twelve Brothers" (German: Die zwölf Brüder) is a classic German fairy tale. The famous Brothers Grimm collected this story. You can find it in their book Grimm's Fairy Tales. Andrew Lang also included it in The Red Fairy Book.
This tale belongs to a group of stories called Aarne-Thompson type 451. These stories are often about brothers who turn into birds. Many similar tales are found across Europe. Other stories like this include The Six Swans and The Wild Swans.
Contents
Where the Story Comes From
The Brothers Grimm first published "The Twelve Brothers" in 1812. It was part of their book Kinder- und Hausmärchen. They changed the story quite a bit in the second edition, which came out in 1819. The Grimm brothers heard the story from two sisters, Julia and Charlotte Ramus.
What Happens in the Story
A king had twelve sons. He made a strange and sad decision. He planned to kill all his sons if his thirteenth child was a girl. This way, only a daughter would inherit his kingdom.
The Queen told her youngest son, Benjamin, about the king's plan. She promised to send them a warning. A white flag would mean a boy was born. A blood-red flag would mean a girl was born, and the boys should run away.
The Brothers' Escape
The twelve sons waited in the forest for twelve days. Then, they saw a red flag. This meant a baby girl had been born. It also meant they were in danger. The brothers felt very angry and betrayed by their father. They decided to leave and live deep in an enchanted cottage in the forest. They had to hunt animals for food.
Meanwhile, the Queen gave birth to a beautiful girl. She had a special star on her forehead.
The Sister Finds Her Brothers
Ten years later, the sister learned about her brothers from her mother. She decided to find them. The Queen had hidden them for their safety. The sister first met Benjamin, who was now older. He was very happy to see her. He then introduced her to their other brothers. She convinced them to stop being angry at all girls. The siblings then lived together happily.
The Ravens' Curse
One day, the sister unknowingly picked twelve white lilies. As soon as she did, her brothers turned into ravens. They flew away, trapped by a magical curse. An old woman told the sister there was only one way to save them. She had to stay silent and not laugh for seven years.
A New Life and a Test
A king who was hunting found the silent girl. He was charmed by her and married her. However, the king's mother did not like the girl's silence. She tried to convince the king that his wife was a witch. She wanted the king to burn her. The young king was very sad because he loved his wife. But he finally gave in, with tears in his eyes.
The Curse Is Broken
As the fire was lit for the pyre, the seven years finally ended. Just then, the twelve ravens arrived. They touched the ground and immediately turned back into human form. They quickly put out the flames and freed their sister. The girl could now speak again. She explained everything to her husband. The cruel mother-in-law was then punished. The sister, her husband, and her brothers all lived happily ever after.
