The King's Son who Feared Nothing

Name: The King's Son who Feared Nothing
Author: Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm

A prince is born with a magical gift: he cannot be harmed by any physical force. He uses this power to indulge his every whim and desire, but ultimately becomes isolated and lonely due to his invincibility.

By Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm · First published 1819 · Genre: Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Adventure · 2,509 words

First lines

There was once a King's son, who was no longer content to stay at home in his father's house, and as he had no fear of anything, he thought, "I will go forth into the wide world, there the time will not seem long to me, and I shall see wonders enough. " So he took leave of his parents, and went forth, and on and on from morning till night, and whichever way his path led it was the same to him. It came to pass that he got to the house of a giant, and as he was so tired he sat down by the door and rested. And as he let his eyes roam here and there, he saw the giant's playthings lying in the yard. These were a couple of enormous balls, and nine-pins as tall as a man. After a while he had a fancy to set the nine-pins up and then rolled the balls at them, and screamed and cried out when the nine-pins fell, and had a merry time of it. The giant heard the noise, stretched his head out of the window, and saw a man who was not taller than other men, and yet played with his nine-pins. "Little worm," cried he, "why art thou playing with my balls? Who gave thee strength to do it? " The King's son looked up, saw the giant, and said, "Oh, thou blockhead, thou thinkest indeed that thou only hast strong arms, I can do everything I want to do. " The giant came down and watched the bowling with great admiration, and said, "Child of man, if thou art one of that kind, go and bring me an apple of the tree of life. " "What dost thou want with it? " said the King's son. "I do not want the apple for myself," answered the giant, "but I have a betrothed bride who wishes for it. I have travelled far about the world and cannot find the tree. " "I will soon find it," said the King's son, "and I do not know what is to prevent me from getting the apple down."

What this Textopian page supports

The King's Son who Feared Nothing 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, Mythology, Children's Literature
Length: 2,509 words
Structure: 1 section, 11 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

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Work identity for The King's Son who Feared Nothing by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm
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Discussion starters

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Similar titles

Genres

Fairy Tale — The narrative follows a traditional fairy tale structure with a hero's journey, magical elements, and moral lessons.
Fantasy — The story includes fantastical elements such as giants, enchanted castles, and magical objects like the ring and the water of life.
Adventure — The protagonist embarks on a quest filled with challenges, exploration, and encounters with mythical creatures.
Mythology — The tale incorporates mythological motifs such as the tree of life and the hero's trials, reminiscent of ancient myths.