The Beam by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm
A poor woodcutter's wife sells her seven children to a witch for a sack of gold. The witch transforms the children into beams and hangs them on the wall. A woodsman comes to the house, sees the beams, and offers to buy them from the witch. She agrees, but only if he can guess their names.
By Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm · First published 1815 · Genre: Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Folklore · 324 words
First lines
There was once an enchanter who was standing in the midst of a great crowd of people performing his wonders. He had a cock brought in, which lifted a heavy beam and carried it as if it were as light as a feather. But a girl was present who had just found a bit of four-leaved clover, and had thus become so wise that no deception could stand out against her, and she saw that the beam was nothing but a straw. So she cried, "You people, do you not see that it is a straw that the cock is carrying, and no beam? " Immediately the enchantment vanished, and the people saw what it was, and drove the magician away in shame and disgrace. He, however, full of inward anger, said, "I will soon revenge myself."
What this Textopian page supports
The Beam 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, Moral Story
- Length: 324 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
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- Work identity for The Beam 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
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Beam?
- 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 Flail From Heaven by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- The Crystal Ball by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- The Two Travellers by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- Knoist And His Three Sons by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- The Spirit In The Bottle by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- The Gnome by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
Genres
- Fairy Tale — The narrative involves magical elements, an enchanter, and a moral lesson, typical of fairy tales.
- Fantasy — The story includes fantastical elements such as enchantment and magical deception.
- Folklore — The tale reflects traditional folklore themes of wisdom, trickery, and social consequences.
- Moral Story — The plot conveys a moral about perception and truth, common in moral stories.
Tags
Fairy Tale · German Folklore · Short Story · Fantasy · Magic · Adventure · Quest · Good vs Evil · Coming of Age · Self Discovery · Moral Lesson · Transformation