Little Thumb by Charles Perrault
Little Thumb is a fairy tale by Charles Perrault about a young man who saves a princess from a wicked giant using his intelligence and wit.
By Charles Perrault · First published 1697 · Genre: Fairy Tale, Children's Literature, Fantasy · 4,680 words
First lines
Once upon a time there was a fagot-maker and his wife, who had seven children, all boys. The eldest was but ten years old, and the youngest only seven.
They were very poor, and their seven children were a great source of trouble to them because not one of them was able to earn his bread. What gave them yet more uneasiness was that the youngest was very delicate, and scarce ever spoke a word, which made people take for stupidity that which was a sign of good sense. He was very little, and when born he was no bigger than one's thumb; hence he was called Little Thumb.
What this Textopian page supports
Little Thumb is listed on Textopian as a short story by Charles Perrault, dated 1697 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Charles Perrault
- Date: 1697 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fairy Tale, Children's Literature, Fantasy, Adventure, Folklore
- Length: 4,680 words
- Structure: 1 section, 64 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Little Thumb by Charles Perrault
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Little Thumb?
- How does this short story by Charles Perrault fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fairy Tale first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Fairy Tale — The story is a traditional fairy tale written by Charles Perrault, filled with magic, miniature characters, and moral lessons.
- Children's Literature — The book uses simple language and plot that is typically enjoyed by children. Plus, it aims to teach them about courage and wit.
- Fantasy — The story involves imaginary elements like talking animals and magical beings.
- Adventure — The protagonist, Little Thumb, embarks on a journey and encounters various challenges.
Tags
fairy tale · children's literature · adventure · courage · resourcefulness · family · overcoming obstacles · magic · fantasy · morality · bravery · imagination