The Griffin
A young man marries a woman who turns out to be a griffin, a creature with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle. The griffin's true nature is revealed when she transforms into her beastly form during their wedding night.
By Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm · First published 1819 · Genre: Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Adventure · 3,314 words
First lines
There was once upon a time a King, but where he reigned and what he was called, I do not know. He had no son, but an only daughter who had always been ill, and no doctor had been able to cure her. Then it was foretold to the King that his daughter should eat herself well with an apple. So he ordered it to be proclaimed throughout the whole of his kingdom, that whosoever brought his daughter an apple with which she could eat herself well, should have her to wife, and be King. This became known to a peasant who had three sons, and he said to the eldest, "Go out into the garden and take a basketful of those beautiful apples with the red cheeks and carry them to the court; perhaps the King's daughter will be able to eat herself well with them, and then thou wilt marry her and be King. " The lad did so, and set out.
What this Textopian page supports
The Griffin 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: Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Adventure, Folklore, Children's Literature
- Length: 3,314 words
- Structure: 1 section, 10 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Griffin 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
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Griffin?
- 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 Kings Son Who Feared Nothing by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- The Sole by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- Bird Found by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- The Six Servants by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- The Charmed Ring by Joseph Jacobs
- The Drummer by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
Genres
- Fairy Tale — The story features classic fairy tale elements such as a king, a princess, magical creatures, and a quest.
- Fantasy — The narrative includes fantastical elements like a talking griffin, magical transformations, and enchanted objects.
- Adventure — The protagonist embarks on a journey filled with challenges and tasks to win the princess's hand.
- Folklore — The story is rooted in traditional folklore motifs and moral lessons.
Tags
Fairy Tale · German Folklore · Mythology · Fantasy · Adventure · Magic · Quest · Good vs Evil · Friendship · Loyalty · Courage · Bravery