The Giant and the Tailor

Name: The Giant and the Tailor
Author: Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm

A poor tailor was forced to flee his home after being accused of stealing a pair of boots from the king's son. He sought refuge with a giant who lived in a nearby mountain. The giant agreed to protect him, but only if he could sew new clothes for him every day. The tailor worked tirelessly, but the giant's enormous size made it impossible to keep up with his demands.

By Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm · First published 1812 · Genre: Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Adventure · 882 words

First lines

A certain tailor who was great at boasting but ill at doing, took it into his head to go abroad for a while, and look about the world. As soon as he could manage it, he left his workshop, and wandered on his way, over hill and dale, sometimes hither, sometimes thither, but ever on and on. Once when he was out he perceived in the blue distance a steep hill, and behind it a tower reaching to the clouds, which rose up out of a wild dark forest. "Thunder and lightning," cried the tailor, "what is that? " and as he was strongly goaded by curiosity, he went boldly towards it. But what made the tailor open his eyes and mouth when he came near it, was to see that the tower had legs, and leapt in one bound over the steep hill, and was now standing as an all powerful giant before him. "What dost thou want here, thou tiny fly's leg? " cried the giant, with a voice as if it were thundering on every side. The tailor whimpered, "I want just to look about and see if I can earn a bit of bread for myself, in this forest. " "If that is what thou art after," said the giant, "thou mayst have a place with me. " "If it must be, why not? What wages shall I receive? " "Thou shalt hear what wages thou shalt have. Every year three hundred and sixty-five days, and when it is leap-year, one more into the bargain. Does that suit thee? " "All right," replied the tailor, and thought, in his own mind, "a man must cut his coat according to his cloth; I will try to get away as fast as I can. " On this the giant said to him, "Go, little ragamuffin, and fetch me a jug of water. " "Had I not better bring the well itself at once, and the spring too? " asked the boaster, and went with the pitcher to the water.

What this Textopian page supports

The Giant and the Tailor 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, Adventure, Comedy, Fable
Length: 882 words
Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)

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Work identity for The Giant and the Tailor by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm
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Discussion starters

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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

Genres

Fairy Tale — The story features fantastical elements, such as a giant and a tailor with seemingly magical abilities, typical of fairy tales.
Fantasy — The narrative includes magical and supernatural occurrences, such as a tower with legs and the tailor's exaggerated feats.
Adventure — The plot follows the tailor's journey and encounters with the giant, involving exploration and challenges.
Comedy — The story contains humorous elements, particularly in the tailor's boastful nature and the giant's gullibility.