The Six Servants - Fairy Tale by the Brothers Grimm

Reading time for children: 20 min

In former times there lived an aged Queen who was a sorceress, and her daughter was the most beautiful maiden under the sun. The old woman, however, had no other thought than how to lure mankind to destruction, and when a wooer appeared, she said that whosoever wished to have her daughter, must first perform a task, or die. Many had been dazzled by the daughter’s beauty, and had actually risked this, but they never could accomplish what the old woman enjoined them to do, and then no mercy was shown. They had to kneel down, and their heads were struck off. A certain King’s son who had also heard of the maiden’s beauty, said to his father, „Let me go there, I want to demand her in marriage.“ – „Never,“ answered the King; „if you were to go, it would be going to your death.“ On this the son lay down and was sick unto death, and for seven years he lay there, and no physician could heal him. When the father perceived that all hope was over, with a heavy heart he said to him, „Go thither, and try your luck, for I know no other means of curing you.“ When the son heard that, he rose from his bed and was well again, and joyfully set out on his way.

And it came to pass that as he was riding across a heath, he saw from afar something like a great heap of hay lying on the ground, and when he drew nearer, he could see that it was the stomach of a man, who had laid himself down there, but the stomach looked like a small mountain. When the fat man saw the traveller, he stood up and said, „If you are in need of any one, take me into your service.“ The prince answered, „What can I do with such a great big man?“ – „Oh,“ said the Stout One, „this is nothing, when I stretch myself out well, I am three thousand times fatter.“ – „If that’s the case,“ said the prince, „I can make use of thee, come with me.“ So the Stout One followed the prince, and after a while they found another man who was lying on the ground with his ear laid to the turf. „What art thou doing there?“ asked the King’s son. „I am listening,“ replied the man. „What art thou listening to so attentively?“ – „I am listening to what is just going on in the world, for nothing escapes my ears. I even hear the grass growing.“ – „Tell me,“ said the prince, „what thou hearest at the court of the old Queen who has the beautiful daughter.“ Then he answered, „I hear the whizzing of the sword that is striking off a wooer’s head.“ The King’s son said, „I can make use of thee, come with me.“ They went onwards, and then saw a pair of feet lying and part of a pair of legs, but could not see the rest of the body. When they had walked on for a great distance, they came to the body, and at last to the head also. „Why,“ said the prince, „what a tall rascal thou art!“ – „Oh,“ replied the Tall One, „that is nothing at all yet. When I really stretch out my limbs, I am three thousand times as tall, and taller than the highest mountain on earth. I will gladly enter your service, if you will take me.“ – „Come with me,“ said the prince, „I can make use of thee.“ They went onwards and found a man sitting by the road who had bound up his eyes. The prince said to him, „Hast thou weak eyes, that thou canst not look at the light?“ – „No,“ replied the man, „but I must not remove the bandage, for whatsoever I look at with my eyes, splits to pieces, my glance is so powerful. If you can use that, I shall be glad to serve you.“ – „Come with me,“ replied the King’s son, „I can make use of thee.“ They journeyed onwards and found a man who was lying in the hot sunshine, trembling and shivering all over his body, so that not a limb was still. „How canst thou shiver when the sun is shining so warm?“ said the King’s son. „Alack,“ replied the man, „I am of quite a different nature. The hotter it is, the colder I am, and the frost pierces through all my bones; and the colder it is, the hotter I am. In the midst of ice, I cannot endure the heat, nor in the midst of fire, the cold.“ – „Thou art a strange fellow,“ said the prince, „but if thou wilt enter my service, follow me.“ They travelled onwards, and saw a man standing who made a long neck and looked about him, and could see over all the mountains. „What art thou looking at so eagerly?“ said the King’s son. The man replied, „I have such sharp eyes that I can see into every forest and field, and hill and valley, all over the world.“ The prince said, „Come with me if thou wilt, for I am still in want of such an one.“

And now the King’s son and his six servants came to the town where the aged Queen dwelt. He did not tell her who he was, but said, „If you will give me your beautiful daughter, I will perform any task you set me.“ The sorceress was delighted to get such a handsome youth as this into her net, and said, „I will set thee three tasks, and if thou art able to perform them all, thou shalt be husband and master of my daughter.“ – „What is the first to be?“ – „Thou shalt fetch me my ring which I have dropped into the Red Sea.“ So the King’s son went home to his servants and said, „The first task is not easy. A ring is to be got out of the Red Sea. Come, find some way of doing it.“ Then the man with the sharp sight said, „I will see where it is lying,“ and looked down into the water and said, „It is sticking there, on a pointed stone.“ The Tall One carried them thither, and said, „I would soon get it out, if I could only see it.“ – „Oh, is that all!“ cried the Stout One, and lay down and put his mouth to the water, on which all the waves fell into it just as if it had been a whirlpool, and he drank up the whole sea till it was as dry as a meadow. The Tall One stooped down a little, and brought out the ring with his hand. Then the King’s son rejoiced when he had the ring, and took it to the old Queen. She was astonished, and said, „Yes, it is the right ring. Thou hast safely performed the first task, but now comes the second. Dost thou see the meadow in front of my palace? Three hundred fat oxen are feeding there, and these must thou eat, skin, hair, bones, horns and all, and down below in my cellar lie three hundred casks of wine, and these thou must drink up as well, and if one hair of the oxen, or one little drop of the wine is left, thy life will be forfeited to me.“ – „May I invite no guests to this repast?“ inquired the prince, „no dinner is good without some company.“ The old woman laughed maliciously, and replied, „Thou mayst invite one for the sake of companionship, but no more.“

The King’s son went to his servants and said to the Stout One, „Thou shalt be my guest today, and shalt eat thy fill.“ Hereupon the Stout One stretched himself out and ate the three hundred oxen without leaving one single hair, and then he asked if he was to have nothing but his breakfast. He drank the wine straight from the casks without feeling any need of a glass, and he licked the last drop from his finger-nails. When the meal was over, the prince went to the old woman, and told her that the second task also was performed. She wondered at this and said, „No one has ever done so much before, but one task still remains,“ and she thought to herself, „Thou shalt not escape me, and wilt not keep thy head on thy shoulders! This night,“ said she, „I will bring my daughter to thee in thy chamber, and thou shalt put thine arms round her, but when you are sitting there together, beware of falling asleep. When twelve o’clock is striking, I will come, and if she is then no longer in thine arms, thou art lost.“ The prince thought, „The task is easy, I will most certainly keep my eyes open.“ Nevertheless he called his servants, told them what the old woman had said, and remarked, „Who knows what treachery lurks behind this? Foresight is a good thing keep watch, and take care that the maiden does not go out of my room again.“ When night fell, the old woman came with her daughter, and gave her into the princes’s arms, and then the Tall One wound himself round the two in a circle, and the Stout One placed himself by the door, so that no living creature could enter. There the two sat, and the maiden spake never a word, but the moon shone through the window on her face, and the prince could behold her wondrous beauty. He did nothing but gaze at her, and was filled with love and happiness, and his eyes never felt weary. This lasted until eleven o’clock, when the old woman cast such a spell over all of them that they fell asleep, and at the self-same moment the maiden was carried away.

Then they all slept soundly until a quarter to twelve, when the magic lost its power, and all awoke again. „Oh, misery and misfortune!“ cried the prince, „now I am lost!“ The faithful servants also began to lament, but the Listener said, „Be quiet, I want to listen.“ Then he listened for an instant and said, „She is on a rock, three hundred leagues from hence, bewailing her fate. Thou alone, Tall One, canst help her. If thou wilt stand up, thou wilt be there in a couple of steps.“

„Yes,“ answered the Tall One, „but the one with the sharp eyes must go with me, that we may destroy the rock.“ Then the Tall One took the one with bandaged eyes on his back, and in the twinkling of an eye they were on the enchanted rock. The Tall One immediately took the bandage from the other’s eyes, and he did but look round, and the rock shivered into a thousand pieces. Then the Tall One took the maiden in his arms, carried her back in a second, then fetched his companion with the same rapidity, and before it struck twelve they were all sitting as they had sat before, quite merrily and happily. When twelve struck, the aged sorceress came stealing in with a malicious face, which seemed to say, „Now he is mine!“ for she believed that her daughter was on the rock three hundred leagues off.“ But when she saw her in the prince’s arms, she was alarmed, and said, „Here is one who knows more than I do!“ She dared not make any opposition, and was forced to give him her daughter. But she whispered in her ear, „It is a disgrace to thee to have to obey common people, and that thou art not allowed to choose a husband to thine own liking.“

On this the proud heart of the maiden was filled with anger, and she meditated revenge. Next morning she caused three hundred great bundles of wood to be got together, and said to the prince that though the three tasks were performed, she would still not be his wife until some one was ready to seat himself in the midst of the wood, and bear the fire. She thought that none of his servants would let themselves be burnt for him, and that out of love for her, he himself would place himself upon it, and then she would be free. But the servants said, „Every one of us has done something except the Frosty One, he must set to work,“ and they put him in the middle of the pile, and set fire to it. Then the fire began to burn, and burnt for three days until all the wood was consumed, and when the flames had burnt out, the Frosty One was standing amid the ashes, trembling like an aspen leaf, and saying, „I never felt such a frost during the whole course of my life. If it had lasted much longer, I should have been benumbed!“

As no other pretext was to be found, the beautiful maiden was now forced to take the unknown youth as a husband. But when they drove away to church, the old woman said, „I cannot endure the disgrace,“ and sent her warriors after them with orders to cut down all who opposed them, and bring back her daughter. But the Listener had sharpened his ears, and heard the secret discourse of the old woman. „What shall we do?“ said he to the Stout One. But he knew what to do, and spat out once or twice behind the carriage some of the sea-water which he had drunk, and a great sea arose in which the warriors were caught and drowned. When the sorceress perceived that, she sent her mailed knights; but the Listener heard the rattling of their armour, and undid the bandage from one eye of Sharp-eyes, who looked for a while rather fixedly at the enemy’s troops, on which they all sprang to pieces like glass. Then the youth and the maiden went on their way undisturbed, and when the two had been blessed in church, the six servants took leave, and said to their master, „Your wishes are now satisfied, you need us no longer, we will go our way and seek our fortunes.“

Half a league from the palace of the prince’s father was a village near which a swineherd tended his herd, and when they came thither the prince said to his wife, „Do you know who I really am? I am no prince, but a herder of swine, and the man who is there with that herd, is my father. We two shall have to set to work also, and help him.“ Then he alighted with her at the inn, and secretly told the innkeepers to take away her royal apparel during the night. So when she awoke in the morning, she had nothing to put on, and the innkeeper’s wife gave her an old gown and a pair of worsted stockings, and at the same time seemed to consider it a great present, and said, „If it were not for the sake of your husband I should have given you nothing at all!“ Then the princess believed that he really was a swineherd, and tended the herd with him, and thought to herself, „I have deserved this for my haughtiness and pride.“ This lasted for a week, and then she could endure it no longer, for she had sores on her feet. And now came a couple of people who asked if she knew who her husband was. „Yes,“ she answered, „he is a swineherd, and has just gone out with cords and ropes to try to drive a little bargain.“ But they said, „Just come with us, and we will take you to him,“ and they took her up to the palace, and when she entered the hall, there stood her husband in kingly raiment. But she did not recognize him until he took her in his arms, kissed her, and said, „I suffered much for thee and now thou, too, hast had to suffer for me.“ And then the wedding was celebrated, and he who has told you all this, wishes that he, too, had been present at it.

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Backgrounds to fairy tale „The Six Servants“

„The Six Servants“ is a German fairy tale collected by the Brothers Grimm in their anthology „Children’s and Household Tales“ (1812), where it is numbered as tale 134. The story combines elements of adventure, magical assistance, and the triumph of good over evil, which are common themes in European fairy tales.

In the story, a prince falls in love with a beautiful princess who has been cursed by a wicked enchantress to marry only the man who can complete three impossible tasks. The prince, determined to win the princess’s hand, sets out on a journey to accomplish these tasks. Along the way, he encounters six servants, each with their unique magical abilities, who agree to help him in his quest.

With the assistance of the six servants, the prince manages to complete all three tasks. However, the enchantress tries to sabotage their efforts by creating obstacles and challenges. Despite her attempts, the prince and the six servants ultimately succeed in breaking the curse, allowing the prince to marry the princess.

The background of „The Six Servants“ can be traced to its exploration of magical assistance, adventure, and the triumph of good over evil. The tale emphasizes the importance of teamwork, perseverance, and the power of friendship to overcome obstacles. It serves as an entertaining and inspiring narrative that teaches readers and listeners the value of determination, courage, and collaboration in achieving one’s goals.

Like many other fairy tales in the Brothers Grimm collection, „The Six Servants“ draws from a rich oral storytelling tradition. The story has been passed down through generations, entertaining audiences with its engaging narrative, memorable characters, and universal themes.

Interpretations to fairy tale „The Six Servants“

„The Six Servants“ from the Brothers Grimm offers various themes and interpretations, including:

The power of teamwork and collaboration: One of the central themes in the story is the importance of working together and utilizing each individual’s unique abilities to overcome challenges. The prince’s success in completing the impossible tasks is possible only through the collaboration and support of the six magical servants.

Overcoming adversity and perseverance: The tale highlights the value of determination and resilience in the face of difficult situations. The prince is undeterred by the seemingly impossible tasks set before him and remains steadfast in his quest to marry the princess.

The triumph of good over evil: As with many fairy tales, „The Six Servants“ showcases the struggle between good and evil. The wicked enchantress attempts to sabotage the prince’s efforts, but in the end, goodness prevails as the prince and his servants succeed in breaking the curse.

Magical assistance: The six servants with unique magical abilities represent the theme of magical assistance in the story. Their skills and powers enable the prince to overcome obstacles and achieve his goal. This theme is prevalent in many European folktales and emphasizes the idea that help can come from unexpected sources.

The importance of loyalty and friendship: The six servants are loyal to the prince, and their strong bond and friendship contribute to their ultimate success. This theme underscores the significance of building relationships and the value of trust and loyalty in achieving one’s goals.

„The Six Servants“ offers a rich tapestry of themes and interpretations that highlight the importance of teamwork, determination, and the triumph of good over evil. The story serves both as an engaging narrative and as a source of moral lessons for readers and listeners.

Adaptions of the fairy tale „The Six Servants“

While „The Six Servants“ is not as widely known or adapted as some other Brothers Grimm fairy tales, it has been included in various collections, anthologies, and retellings of their stories. Some specific examples include:

„Grimm’s Complete Fairy Tales“ (Leather-bound Classics): This comprehensive collection by Canterbury Classics includes the complete set of Brothers Grimm fairy tales, featuring „The Six Servants“ alongside other lesser-known stories. This edition offers updated language and illustrations to make the stories more accessible to modern readers.

„The Complete Grimm’s Fairy Tales“ (Pantheon Fairy Tale and Folklore Library): Edited by Jack Zipes, this edition provides a thorough collection of the Brothers Grimm’s stories, including „The Six Servants.“ The book features illustrations by Josef Scharl and presents the tales in their entirety.

„Grimm’s Fairy Tales“ (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition): This collection, translated by Jack Zipes, includes more than 200 tales from the Brothers Grimm, such as „The Six Servants.“ The book presents the stories with a focus on their historical context, providing readers with a deeper understanding of the tales‘ origins and significance.

„Six Servants“ (1984) by Laura Cecil: This children’s book retells the story of „The Six Servants“ with illustrations by Emma Chichester Clark. The adaptation simplifies the original story, making it more accessible to young readers.

While „The Six Servants“ has not inspired major adaptations in film, television, or theater, its inclusion in various collections and anthologies of Brothers Grimm stories ensures that the tale continues to be read and appreciated by audiences interested in exploring lesser-known fairy tales.

Adaptions of the fairy tale „The Six Servants“

„The Six Servants“ is a popular fairy tale that has been adapted and retold in various forms. Some notable adaptations of the story include:

Opera: In 1878, the composer Johann Strauss II created an operetta based on the story, titled „The Six Servants.“ The operetta features many of the same characters and themes as the original story, but with added musical elements.

Children’s books: „The Six Servants“ has been adapted into numerous children’s books, including „The Six Servants: An Old Story Retold“ by Maud Lindsay and „The Six Servants“ by Eva Muggenthaler.

Animated film: In 1954, the story was adapted into a Russian animated film titled „The Six Servants.“ The film follows the original story closely, but adds additional characters and scenes.

Stage play: „The Six Servants“ has been adapted into several stage plays, including a 1995 production by the Children’s Theater Company of Minneapolis.

TV series: In 1972, the story was adapted into an episode of the Japanese animated TV series „Manga Nihon Mukashi Banashi.“ The episode, titled „The Six Servants,“ is a faithful retelling of the original story.

Audio drama: In 2020, the story was adapted into an audio drama by Big Finish Productions, as part of their series of Grimm’s Fairy Tales adaptations.

Summary of the plot

„The Six Servants“ is a Brothers Grimm fairy tale about a prince who falls in love with a princess cursed by a wicked enchantress. The curse states that the princess can only marry a man who completes three seemingly impossible tasks. The determined prince sets out on a quest to complete these tasks and win the princess’s hand.

During his journey, the prince encounters six servants, each with unique magical abilities. They agree to help the prince in his quest. With the aid of these six servants, the prince successfully completes the tasks, despite the enchantress’s attempts to sabotage their efforts.

The first task is to find and retrieve a ring from the bottom of the sea. The second task involves eating a mountain of bread, and the third task requires the prince to drink an entire lake of wine. With the help of the six servants and their magical abilities, the prince accomplishes all three tasks.

In the end, the prince and the six servants triumph over the wicked enchantress, breaking the curse and allowing the prince to marry the princess. The story emphasizes themes of teamwork, determination, and the triumph of good over evil, highlighting the importance of loyalty, friendship, and the power of collaboration in overcoming obstacles.

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Backgrounds to fairy tale „The Six Servants“

„The Six Servants“ is a German fairy tale collected by the Brothers Grimm in their compilation of stories known as „Grimms‘ Fairy Tales.“ The Brothers Grimm, Jacob and Wilhelm, were German scholars and linguists who lived in the 19th century. They sought to preserve and document the oral tradition of German folklore, which had been passed down through generations.

The tale of „The Six Servants“ tells the story of a King’s son who sets out on a quest to win the heart of a beautiful maiden, despite the challenges and obstacles set forth by the maiden’s evil sorceress mother. Along his journey, the King’s son encounters six servants, each with a unique and extraordinary ability. With their help, he is able to complete the three impossible tasks set by the sorceress mother and ultimately wins the hand of the beautiful maiden in marriage.

This fairy tale, like many others in the Grimms‘ collection, has its roots in the rich oral storytelling tradition of Germany. It incorporates elements of magic, adventure, love, and the triumph of good over evil. The story has been adapted and retold in various forms over the years, including books, plays, and films.

„The Six Servants“ serves as a timeless reminder of the importance of teamwork, humility, and the transformative power of love. It also highlights the danger of making assumptions and the value of looking beyond appearances to understand the true nature of things.

Interpretations to fairy tale „The Six Servants“

„The Six Servants“ by Brothers Grimm is a classic fairy tale that can be interpreted from various perspectives. Here are some possible interpretations:

The power of teamwork and cooperation: The King’s son is only able to complete the three seemingly impossible tasks with the help of his six servants, each with their own unique abilities. This demonstrates the importance of working together and leveraging individual strengths to overcome challenges.

The consequences of pride and arrogance: The beautiful maiden and her sorceress mother both exhibit great pride and arrogance throughout the story. Their ill intentions towards the King’s son ultimately lead to their own downfall, showing that pride and arrogance can often have negative consequences.

The transformative power of love: The King’s son is initially attracted to the beautiful maiden due to her appearance, but he ultimately falls in love with her. This love, combined with the trials they face together, helps the maiden to realize the error of her ways and leads to a change in her character.

The importance of humility: The King’s son, despite being of noble birth, humbly accepts the help of his six servants and is not afraid to admit when he needs assistance. This humility enables him to succeed where others have failed and ultimately win the heart of the beautiful maiden.

The danger of making assumptions: The sorceress mother and the beautiful maiden both make assumptions about the King’s son and his servants, underestimating their abilities and determination. These assumptions lead to their eventual defeat, highlighting the danger of judging others based on appearances or preconceived notions.

The theme of deception and appearances: Throughout the story, characters often disguise their true identities or intentions. The King’s son initially hides his identity, and the beautiful maiden is deceived into believing he is a swineherd. This theme underscores the importance of looking beyond appearances and seeking the truth.

Summary of the plot

away with his father to look after their herd.“ But they said, „Just come with us, and we will take you to him,“ and they took her up to the palace, and when she entered the hall, there stood her husband in kingly raiment. He, however, was no longer the unknown youth, but the rightful heir to the throne. The old King had died during their absence, and the prince was filled with joy when he saw his wife again, and she told him that she had repented of her folly and had learned to prize her husband’s virtues.

In „The Six Servants,“ a prince must complete three tasks to win the hand of a beautiful maiden, whose sorceress mother wishes to lead him to his death. The prince gathers six remarkable servants to help him: a Stout One, a Listener, a Tall One, a Sharp-eyes, a Frosty One, and a man with a powerful glance. They successfully accomplish the tasks, including retrieving a ring from the Red Sea, consuming 300 oxen and casks of wine, and preventing the maiden from being spirited away at midnight. The sorceress, unable to thwart the prince, sends her warriors to retrieve her daughter, but the prince’s servants protect them. When the prince reveals he is not a swineherd but the rightful king, his wife repents her pride and they live happily together. The six servants then depart to seek their own fortunes.

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