The Knapsack, the Hat, and the Horn
A poor man has a knapsack, hat, and horn stolen from him. He reports the theft to the authorities but they are uninterested. The thief uses the items to commit crimes and evade capture. Eventually, the thief is caught and punished.
By Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm · First published 1819 · Genre: Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Adventure · 2,743 words
First lines
There were once three brothers who had fallen deeper and deeper into poverty, and at last their need was so great that they had to endure hunger, and had nothing to eat or drink. Then said they, "We cannot go on thus, we had better go into the world and seek our fortune. " They therefore set out, and had already walked over many a long road and many a blade of grass, but had not yet met with good luck. One day they arrived in a great forest, and in the midst of it was a hill, and when they came nearer they saw that the hill was all silver. Then spoke the eldest, "Now I have found the good luck I wished for, and I desire nothing more. " He took as much of the silver as he could possibly carry, and then turned back and went home again. But the two others said, "We want something more from good luck than mere silver," and did not touch it, but went onwards. After they had walked for two days longer without stopping, they came to a hill which was all gold. The second brother stopped, took thought with himself, and was undecided. "What shall I do? " said he; "shall I take for myself so much of this gold, that I have sufficient for all the rest of my life, or shall I go farther? " At length he made a decision, and putting as much into his pockets as would go in, said farewell to his brother, and went home. But the third said, "Silver and gold do not move me, I will not renounce my chance of fortune, perhaps something better still will be given me."
What this Textopian page supports
The Knapsack, the Hat, and the Horn is listed on Textopian as a short story 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: Short story
- Author: Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm
- Date: 1819 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Adventure, Folklore, Moral Story
- Length: 2,743 words
- Structure: 1 section, 14 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Knapsack, the Hat, and the Horn 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
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Knapsack, the Hat, and the Horn?
- How does this short story by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fairy Tale first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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Genres
- Fairy Tale — The story features magical objects, a quest for fortune, and moral lessons, typical of fairy tales.
- Fantasy — The narrative includes fantastical elements such as magical items and supernatural occurrences.
- Adventure — The plot follows a journey with challenges and discoveries, characteristic of adventure stories.
- Folklore — The tale is rooted in traditional folklore, with themes of morality and cultural motifs.
Tags
Fairy Tale · German Folklore · Short Story · Fantasy · Adventure · Magic · Travel · Quest · Mystery · Supernatural · Enchantment · Transformation