The Bittern and the Hoopoe
A young man marries a woman who has been transformed into a hoopoe bird. He takes her to his home and tries to win her back with kindness and gifts. The hoopoe eventually returns to its natural form, but the marriage is not successful due to the husband's lack of understanding and acceptance of his wife's past experiences.
By Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm · First published 1819 · Genre: Fable, Folklore, Fantasy · 304 words
First lines
"Where do you like best to feed your flocks? " said a man to an old cow-herd. "Here, sir, where the grass is neither too rich nor too poor, or else it is no use. " "Why not? " asked the man. "Do you hear that melancholy cry from the meadow there? " answered the shepherd, "that is the bittern; he was once a shepherd, and so was the hoopoe also,-I will tell you the story. The bittern pastured his flocks on rich green meadows where flowers grew in abundance, so his cows became wild and unmanageable. The hoopoe drove his cattle on to high barren hills, where the wind plays with the sand, and his cows became thin, and got no strength. When it was evening, and the shepherds wanted to drive their cows homewards, the bittern could not get his together again; they were too high-spirited, and ran away from him. He called, "Come, cows, come," but it was of no use; they took no notice of his calling. The hoopoe, however, could not even get his cows up on their legs, so faint and weak had they become. "Up, up, up," screamed he, but it was in vain, they remained lying on the sand. That is the way when one has no moderation. And to this day, though they have no flocks now to watch, the bittern cries, "Come, cows, come," and the hoopoe, "Up, up, up. "
What this Textopian page supports
The Bittern and the Hoopoe 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: Fable, Folklore, Fantasy, Children's Literature, Parable
- Length: 304 words
- Structure: 1 section, 1 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
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Discussion starters
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Similar titles
- The Old Woman In The Wood by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- The Frog King Or Iron Henry by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- The Three Spinners by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- The Poor Man And The Rich Man by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- The Three Feathers by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- The Frog King Or Iron Henry by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
Genres
- Fable — The story uses animals to convey a moral lesson about moderation.
- Folklore — The narrative is rooted in traditional tales and cultural storytelling.
- Fantasy — The story involves talking animals and anthropomorphism, typical of fantasy elements.
- Children's Literature — The simple narrative and moral lesson are characteristic of stories aimed at children.
Tags
Fairy Tale · German Folklore · Birds · Magic · Transformation · Revenge · Punishment · Justice · Morality · Teaching Story · Animal Characters · Human Nature