The White Snake facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The White Snake
1916 illustration by Arthur Rackham
Folk tale
Name	The White Snake
Data
Aarne-Thompson grouping	ATU 673
Country	Germany
Published in	Grimm's Fairy Tales

The White Snake (in German: Die weiße Schlange) is a classic fairy tale from Germany. It was collected by the famous Brothers Grimm and published in their book, Grimm's Fairy Tales. This story is about a young man who discovers a magical secret. He gains a special power that helps him on an amazing adventure.

The King's Secret

Once upon a time, there was a wise King. Every evening, he received a special covered dish. No one knew what was inside. A curious servant wanted to find out. One night, he carefully lifted the cover. He saw a coiled white snake.

A Special Power

The servant decided to take a small bite of the snake. Suddenly, something amazing happened! He could now understand animals. He could hear their thoughts and talk to them. This new power would soon change his life.

The Missing Ring

Soon after, the servant faced a big problem. He was accused of stealing the Queen's ring. He had only one day to prove his innocence. If he failed, he would be punished. The servant felt very sad and worried.

He sat down, feeling like he had no hope. Then, he overheard some geese talking. One goose complained about a ring stuck in her throat! The servant quickly understood. He rushed to the kitchen and grabbed the goose. The cook found the missing gold ring inside the goose. The King was very sorry for accusing the servant. He offered the servant land and riches. But the servant only wanted a little gold and a horse. He wanted to explore the countryside.

A Journey Begins

The servant began his journey. Along the way, he met many animals in trouble. First, he saw three fish out of water. They were struggling to breathe. Next, he saw ants that were about to be stepped on. Finally, he found starving raven baby birds in a nest.

Helping Hands

In each case, the servant stopped to help. He put the fish back in the water. He carefully moved the ants to safety. He fed the hungry baby ravens. Each time, the grateful animals thanked him. They promised, "We will remember and return the favor."

A Royal Challenge

The servant arrived in a new town. The King there had a challenge for anyone who wanted to marry his daughter. The suitor had to complete a very difficult task. If they failed, they would be put to death. The young man saw the beautiful princess. He immediately agreed to the challenge.

The King threw a golden ring into the deep sea. He told the young man to get it back. He warned him: bring the ring, or drown trying, or be drowned if he returned without it.

The Princess's Tests

Suddenly, the three fish he had saved appeared. They were floating, carrying a mussel. Inside the mussel was the King's ring! The King was amazed. He agreed to let the young man marry his daughter.

However, the princess was not fully convinced. She gave him another task. She had spilled sacks of grain in the grass. He had to collect every single grain. The young man thought this was impossible. He lay down and fell asleep. When he woke up, the sacks were full! The Ant King had gathered all the ants. They worked all night to fill the sacks.

Still, the princess was not satisfied. She sent him on one last quest. He had to bring her an apple from the legendary Tree of Life. The man did not know where this tree was. But he set off anyway. After traveling through three kingdoms, he heard the three baby ravens. They told him they had flown across the sea. They had found the Tree of Life at the end of the world. They brought him a Golden Apple!

A Happy Ending

The young man was very thankful. He took the Golden Apple to the princess. They shared the apple. Soon after, they were married. They lived a long and happy life together.

Images for kids

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  1916 illustration by Arthur Rackham