The Yellow Dwarf facts for kids
The Yellow Dwarf is a classic fairy tale from France. It was written by a famous author named Madame d'Aulnoy. This story also appeared in The Blue Fairy Book, a popular collection of fairy tales put together by Andrew Lang.
Contents
What Happens in The Yellow Dwarf?
The Queen's Worry
Once upon a time, there was a queen who had a beautiful daughter. The queen loved her daughter very much and spoiled her. Many kings wanted to marry the princess, but the queen worried her daughter would never find a husband.
To get advice, the queen decided to visit the Fairy of the Desert. She baked a special cake to protect herself from the lions that guarded the fairy. But on her journey, she lost the cake!
A Deal with the Dwarf
Suddenly, a yellow dwarf appeared. He offered to save the queen from the lions. In return, he asked for the princess's hand in marriage. The queen was scared, so she agreed. But when the dwarf showed her the sad, tiny home where her daughter would live, the queen became very sick.
The princess was worried about her mother. She went to find the same desert fairy. The dwarf met her and told her about her mother's promise. The princess did not want to marry the dwarf. But then, the lions arrived! To save herself, she agreed to marry the dwarf.
A Royal Wedding and a Kidnapping
Back at the castle, the princess also became very ill. To make her feel better, she agreed to marry the King of the Gold Mines. But at their wedding, the Fairy of the Desert and the Yellow Dwarf suddenly appeared!
The dwarf quickly carried off the princess. The fairy, who had fallen in love with the king, took him away too. She chained him in a cave. The fairy changed herself into a beautiful woman, but her feet stayed the same. The king recognized her by her feet. He told her he would only love her if she set him free.
The King's Escape
The Fairy of the Desert freed the king and took him to her castle. On the way, they flew past the castle where the princess was. She saw them and thought the king was being unfaithful to her.
The king was kept comfortably, but he still could not escape. He walked by the sea, feeling sad. A mermaid helped him by leaving magical sea rushes that looked like his body. This tricked the fairy. The mermaid also gave the king a special sword to help him find the princess.
The Final Battle
The fairy was completely fooled by the sea rushes and did not chase the king. The king fought his way past scary sphinxes and dragons. He then met maidens holding flower garlands. He pushed past them, breaking their garlands, until he reached the princess.
He explained that he had been faithful to her. But then, the Yellow Dwarf found them. The dwarf sadly killed the king. The princess was so heartbroken that she also passed away. The mermaid could only change their bodies into two palm trees.
The Story on Stage
This fairy tale was one of many stories by Madame d'Aulnoy that was turned into a play. A writer named James Planché adapted it for the stage. He created a show called The Yellow Dwarf, and The King of the Gold Mines.
