The White Bride and the Black One facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The White Bride and the Black One |
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|---|---|
| Folk tale | |
| Name | The White Bride and the Black One |
| Data | |
| Aarne–Thompson grouping | ATU 403A |
| Region | Germany, |
| Published in | Kinder- und Hausmärchen, by the Brothers Grimm |
"The White Bride and the Black One" is a classic German fairy tale. It was collected by the famous Brothers Grimm. This story is number 135 in their collection of "Kinder- und Hausmärchen" (Children's and Household Tales). It belongs to a group of stories known as Aarne-Thompson type 403A. Other tales like this include The Three Little Men in the Wood and Brother and Sister.
Contents
What is "The White Bride and the Black One"?
This fairy tale tells a story about kindness, jealousy, and justice. It shows how good deeds are rewarded and bad deeds are punished. The story features a kind stepdaughter and her mean stepmother and stepsister.
The Story Begins
The tale starts with a woman and her daughter. They are cutting plants for animal food. A mysterious traveler, who is actually the Lord in disguise, asks them for directions to the village. The woman and her daughter are rude and refuse to help him.
However, the woman's stepdaughter is kind. She offers to show the traveler the way. Because of their unkindness, the woman and her daughter are magically changed. They become dark-skinned and ugly. The kind stepdaughter, however, is given three special wishes. She wishes for beauty, a purse that always has gold, and to go to Heaven when she dies.
A Royal Marriage Plan
The stepdaughter has a brother named Reginer. He works for the king as a coachman. Reginer is very proud of his sister's beauty. He asks for a painting of her and hangs it in his room.
One day, the king sees the beautiful portrait. He immediately decides he wants to marry the woman in the painting. Reginer sends for his sister to come to the palace. The stepmother and stepsister also come along.
The Stepmother's Evil Plan
On the journey, the wicked stepmother uses magic. She makes the coachman, Reginer, partly blind. She also makes the beautiful bride partly deaf. This way, the bride cannot hear what Reginer says.
The stepmother then tricks the bride. She tells her to take off her fine clothes. She also tells her to look out the window. As the bride looks out, the stepmother pushes her out of the carriage!
The king is shocked when he sees the dark-skinned stepsister instead of the beautiful bride. He is very upset. He orders Reginer, the coachman, to be thrown into a pit. But the stepmother convinces the king to marry the dark-skinned stepsister instead.
The Truth Comes Out
After some time, a white duck starts visiting the palace kitchen. It speaks to the kitchen boy. The duck asks him to light the fire. Then, it asks about Reginer and the "black bride." This happens for a few days.
The kitchen boy finally tells the king about the talking duck. The king decides to investigate. He goes to the kitchen and sees the duck. He then cuts off the duck's head.
Suddenly, the duck transforms! It turns back into the beautiful white bride. The king is overjoyed. He immediately frees Reginer from the pit.
Justice is Served
The king then asks the stepmother a clever question. He asks her what should happen to someone who did such a terrible deed. The stepmother, not knowing the king knows her secret, suggests a harsh punishment. She says such a person should be put in a barrel. This barrel should have nails inside. Then, a horse should drag the barrel away.
The king agrees with her "suggestion." He orders that the stepmother and the dark-skinned stepsister receive this very punishment. After justice is served, the king happily marries the beautiful white bride.
See also
In Spanish: La novia blanca y la novia negra (cuento) para niños
