The Fisherman and his Wife
A poor fisherman catches a magical golden fish that grants him wishes. He asks for a new house, then a castle, and eventually the throne of the kingdom. However, each time he becomes dissatisfied with his new status and demands something even greater. The fisherman's wife is equally greedy and ambitious, driving their downward spiral into poverty and despair.
By Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm · First published 1812 · Genre: Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Fable · 4,027 words
First lines
There was once on a time, a Fisherman who lived with his wife in a miserable hovel close by the sea, and every day he went out fishing. And once, as he was sitting with his rod, looking at the clear water, his line suddenly went down, far down below, and when he drew it up again, he brought out a large Flounder.
Then the Flounder said to him: "Hark, you Fisherman, I pray you, let me live. I am no Flounder really, but an enchanted Prince. What good will it do you to kill me? I should not be good to eat. Put me in the water again, and let me go."
What this Textopian page supports
The Fisherman and his Wife is listed on Textopian as a fable by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, dated 1812 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: 1812 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Fable, Children's Literature, Folklore
- Length: 4,027 words
- Structure: 1 section, 100 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Fisherman and his Wife 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
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Genres
- Fairy Tale — The story features magical elements, moral lessons, and a narrative style typical of traditional fairy tales.
- Fantasy — The presence of an enchanted talking fish and the granting of wishes places the story within the fantasy genre.
- Fable — The narrative conveys a moral lesson about greed and contentment, akin to a fable.
- Children's Literature — The simple language, moral lesson, and fantastical elements make it suitable for children.
Tags
FairyTale · GermanLiterature · Marriage · WishGranting · Fisherman · Wife · Magic · Deception · Greed · Consequences · MoralLesson · Folklore