Frau Trude

Name: Frau Trude
Author: Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm

The story revolves around a young woman who marries an old man after being tricked into doing so by her mother and stepfather. The old man dies soon after the wedding, leaving his estate to his daughter from a previous marriage. The young woman's mother and stepfather try to take control of the estate but are thwarted when the old man's daughter returns home.

By Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm · First published 1815 · Genre: Fairy Tale, Horror, Fantasy · 374 words

First lines

There was once a little girl who was obstinate and inquisitive, and when her parents told her to do anything, she did not obey them, so how could she fare well? One day she said to her parents, "I have heard so much of Frau Trude, I will go to her some day. People say that everything about her does look so strange, and that there are such odd things in her house, that I have become quite curious! " Her parents absolutely forbade her, and said, "Frau Trude is a bad woman, who does wicked things, and if thou goest to her; thou art no longer our child. " But the maiden did not let herself be turned aside by her parent's prohibition, and still went to Frau Trude. And when she got to her, Frau Trude said, "Why art thou so pale? " "Ah," she replied, and her whole body trembled, "I have been so terrified at what I have seen. " "What hast thou seen? " "I saw a black man on your steps. " "That was a collier. " "Then I saw a green man. " "That was a huntsman. " "After that I saw a blood-red man. " "That was a butcher. " "Ah, Frau Trude, I was terrified; I looked through the window and saw not you, but, as I verily believe, the devil himself with a head of fire. " "Oho! " said she, "then thou hast seen the witch in her proper costume. I have been waiting for thee, and wanting thee a long time already; thou shalt give me some light. " Then she changed the girl into a block of wood, and threw it into the fire. And when it was in full blaze she sat down close to it, and warmed herself by it, and said, "That shines bright for once in a way. "

What this Textopian page supports

Frau Trude is listed on Textopian as a fable by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, dated 1815 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: 1815 CE
Language: English
Genres: Fairy Tale, Horror, Fantasy, Gothic, Moral Story
Length: 374 words
Structure: 1 section, 1 paragraphs
Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)

Good citation fit

Work identity for Frau Trude by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm
Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters

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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

Genres

Fairy Tale — The story features traditional fairy tale elements such as a moral lesson, magical transformation, and a witch character.
Horror — The narrative includes frightening elements like the devil, transformation into a block of wood, and the burning of the girl, creating a sense of horror.
Fantasy — The presence of supernatural beings and magical transformations aligns with the fantasy genre.
Gothic — The story's dark and mysterious atmosphere, along with the presence of a witch, contributes to a gothic tone.