The Crystal Ball

Name: The Crystal Ball
Author: Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm

A young woman's husband dies, leaving her with a daughter. She marries again but the second husband is cruel and abusive. The stepdaughter is mistreated by her stepmother and stepsister. A fairy godmother appears and helps the stepdaughter prepare for a royal ball. At the ball, the stepdaughter meets a prince and they dance together. However, she must leave before midnight or be turned into a statue.

By Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm · First published 1815 · Genre: Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Adventure · 1,268 words

First lines

There was once an enchantress, who had three sons who loved each other as brothers, but the old woman did not trust them, and thought they wanted to steal her power from her. So she changed the eldest into an eagle, which was forced to dwell in the rocky mountains, and was often seen sweeping in great circles in the sky. The second, she changed into a whale, which lived in the deep sea, and all that was seen of it was that it sometimes spouted up a great jet of water in the air. Each of them only bore his human form for only two hours daily. The third son, who was afraid she might change him into a raging wild beast a bear perhaps, or a wolf, went secretly away. He had heard that a King's daughter who was bewitched, was imprisoned in the Castle of the Golden Sun, and was waiting for deliverance. Those, however, who tried to free her risked their lives; three-and-twenty youths had already died a miserable death, and now only one other might make the attempt, after which no more must come. And as his heart was without fear, he caught at the idea of seeking out the Castle of the Golden Sun. He had already travelled about for a long time without being able to find it, when he came by chance into a great forest, and did not know the way out of it. All at once he saw in the distance two giants, who made a sign to him with their hands, and when he came to them they said, "We are quarrelling about a cap, and which of us it is to belong to, and as we are equally strong, neither of us can get the better of the other. The small men are cleverer than we are, so we will leave the decision to thee."

What this Textopian page supports

The Crystal Ball 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, Adventure, Mythology, Romance
Length: 1,268 words
Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)

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Discussion starters

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Similar titles

Genres

Fairy Tale — The story features magical elements, such as enchantments, transformations, and mythical creatures, typical of fairy tales.
Fantasy — The narrative includes fantastical elements like a wishing-cap, a crystal ball, and a magical castle, aligning with the fantasy genre.
Adventure — The protagonist embarks on a quest to rescue a princess, facing various challenges and dangers, characteristic of adventure stories.
Mythology — The presence of mythical creatures and the theme of transformation are reminiscent of mythological tales.