Bearskin by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm
A poor soldier returns from war to find his wife has been seduced by a wealthy nobleman and has borne him a child. The soldier seeks revenge but ultimately kills the wrong man, leading to his own downfall.
By Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm · First published 1819 · Genre: Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Folklore · 2,297 words
First lines
There was once upon a time a young fellow who enlisted for a soldier, and became so brave and courageous that he was always in the front ranks when it rained blue beans.[1] As long as the war lasted all went well, but when peace was concluded he received his discharge, and the captain told him he might go where he liked. His parents meanwhile had died, and as he had no longer any home to go to he paid a visit to his brothers, and asked them to give him shelter until war broke out again. His brothers, however, were hard-hearted, and said, "What could we do with you? We could make nothing of you; see to what you have brought yourself"; and so turned a deaf ear. The poor Soldier had nothing but his musket left; so he mounted this on his shoulder and set out on a tramp. By and by he came to a great heath with nothing on it but a circle of trees, under which he sat down, sorrowfully considering his fate. "I have no money," thought he; "I have learnt nothing but soldiering, and now, since peace is concluded, there is no need of me. I see well enough I shall have to starve. " All at once he heard a rustling, and as he looked round he perceived a stranger standing before him, dressed in a gray coat, who looked very stately, but had an ugly cloven foot. "I know quite well what you need," said this being; "gold and other possessions you shall have, as much as you can spend; but first I must know whether you are a coward or not, that I may not spend my money foolishly."
What this Textopian page supports
Bearskin is listed on Textopian as a fable by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, dated 1819 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Fable
- Author: Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm
- Date: 1819 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Folklore, Adventure, Moral Story
- Length: 2,297 words
- Structure: 1 section, 15 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Bearskin by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm
- 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 Bearskin?
- How does this fable by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fairy Tale first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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- The Two Travellers by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
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Genres
- Fairy Tale — The story features magical elements, a moral lesson, and a transformation, typical of fairy tales.
- Fantasy — Involves supernatural beings and events, such as a pact with the devil and magical transformations.
- Folklore — The narrative is rooted in traditional folklore themes, including deals with supernatural entities and moral lessons.
- Adventure — The protagonist embarks on a journey filled with challenges and encounters with various characters.
Tags
Fairy Tale · German Folklore · Soldier's Story · Bearskin Coat · Magic Object · Transformation · Identity Crisis · Social Hierarchy · Class Struggle · Moral Lesson · Coming of Age · Self-Discovery