One-Eye, Two-Eyes, and Three-Eyes
The story revolves around a miller who boasts about his three sons to the king, exaggerating their abilities and accomplishments. The king invites the sons to come to the palace for a test of their worth. One-Eye, the eldest son, is tasked with fetching a golden bird from a nearby forest. He succeeds in capturing it but is unable to bring it back alive due to his one eye's limited vision. Two-Eyes, the middle son, is given the same task and also captures the bird, but he too fails to bring it back alive because of his two eyes' inability to see through the bird's cage. Three-Eyes, the youngest son, is tasked with fetching the golden bird. He uses his three eyes to observe the bird's movements and successfully brings it back alive. The king is impressed by Three-Eyes' abilities and rewards him with a large sum of money and a beautiful princess as a bride.
By Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm · First published 1815 · Genre: Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Folklore · 3,328 words
First lines
There was once a woman who had three daughters, the eldest of whom was called One-Eye, because she had only one eye in the middle of her forehead, and the second, Two-Eyes, because she had two eyes like other folks, and the youngest, Three-Eyes, because she had three eyes; and her third eye was in the centre of her forehead.
Now, as Two-Eyes saw just as other human beings did, her sisters and her mother could not endure her. They said to her, "You, with your two eyes, are no better than common folk. You do not belong to us!"
What this Textopian page supports
One-Eye, Two-Eyes, and Three-Eyes 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, Fantasy, Folklore, Children's Literature, Moral Tale
- Length: 3,328 words
- Structure: 1 section, 86 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for One-Eye, Two-Eyes, and Three-Eyes 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 One-Eye, Two-Eyes, and Three-Eyes?
- 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
- The Three Green Twigs Childrens Legends by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- St Joseph In The Forest Childrens Legends by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- The Magic Fiddle by Joseph Jacobs
- Bird Found by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- The Crumbs On The Table by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- Donkey Cabbages by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
Genres
- Fairy Tale — The story features magical elements, moral lessons, and a narrative style typical of traditional fairy tales.
- Fantasy — Incorporates fantastical elements such as a magical goat and a tree with silver leaves and golden fruit.
- Folklore — Reflects cultural folklore themes, including family dynamics and magical interventions.
- Children's Literature — Written in a simple style suitable for children, with clear moral lessons.
Tags
Fairy Tale · German Folklore · Children's Literature · Fantasy · Adventure · Magic · Mythology · Legend · Storytelling · Cultural Heritage · Traditional Story · Tale of Good vs Evil