THE WOLF AND The Seven Young Goslings
An old goose warns her seven goslings about a cunning wolf before leaving for the woods. The wolf attempts to deceive the goslings by altering his voice and disguising his paws, but they remain vigilant and refuse to open the door. Eventually, he succeeds in tricking them by covering his paws with flour, leading the goslings to believe he is their mother. Once inside, the wolf devours six of the goslings, leaving only the youngest, who hides in a clock-case. The old goose returns to find her home in disarray and discovers the youngest gosling, who reveals the wolf's actions. In a desperate attempt to save her children, she finds the wolf sleeping and cuts him open, freeing the six goslings unharmed. They celebrate their reunion, and the old goose devises a plan to punish the wolf. She instructs the goslings to gather stones, which they place inside the wolf's belly before sewing him up. When the wolf awakens and attempts to drink, the stones cause him to fall into a spring, leading to his demise. The goslings rejoice, celebrating their victory over the wolf and their safe return to their mother.
By Dinah Mulock · First published 1870 · Genre: Children's Literature, Fairy Tale, Fantasy · 1,244 words
First lines
There was once an old goose who had seven young goslings, and loved them as only a mother can love her children. One day she was going into the wood to seek for provender, and before setting off she called all seven to her and said, "Dear children, I am obliged to go into the wood, so be on your guard against the wolf; for if he gets in here he will eat you up, feathers, skin, and all. The villain often disguises himself, but you can easily recognise him by his rough voice and black paws."
The children answered, "Dear mother, we will take great care; you may go without any anxiety. " So the old lady was comforted, and set off cheerfully for the wood.
What this Textopian page supports
THE WOLF AND The Seven Young Goslings is listed on Textopian as a short story by Dinah Mulock, dated 1870 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Dinah Mulock
- Date: 1870 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Children's Literature, Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Animal Fiction, Adventure
- Length: 1,244 words
- Structure: 1 section, 17 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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- Work identity for THE WOLF AND The Seven Young Goslings by Dinah Mulock
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Discussion starters
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- Where does Children's Literature first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Children's Literature — The book is a classic fairy tale retelling intended for a young audience.
- Fairy Tale — The story is a reimagining of a traditional fairy tale about a wolf and seven goslings.
- Fantasy — The story involves anthropomorphic animals and fairy-tale elements.
- Animal Fiction — The main characters are animals that exhibit human-like characteristics and behaviors, a common characteristic of Animal Fiction.
Tags
fairy tale · children's literature · fable · morality · animals · wolf · goslings · adventure · cautionary tale · family · deception · safety