The Maid of Brakel
A young woman from a poor family marries an old man for financial security. She is mistreated by her husband and his children from a previous marriage. The woman's stepchildren are cruel to her, but she remains kind and obedient. One day, the old man dies, and the woman inherits a large sum of money. However, she does not enjoy her newfound wealth because it brings no happiness.
By Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm · First published 1819 · Genre: Fairy Tale, Folklore, Humor · 183 words
First lines
A girl from Brakel once went to St. Anne's Chapel at the foot of the Hinnenberg, and as she wanted to have a husband, and thought there was no one else in the chapel, she sang,
"Oh, holy Saint Anne! Help me soon to a man. Thou know'st him right well, By Suttmer gate does he dwell, His hair it is golden, Thou know'st him right well. "
The clerk, however, was standing behind the altar and heard that, so he cried in a very gruff voice, "Thou shalt not have him! Thou shalt not have him! " The maiden thought that the child Mary who stood by her mother Anne had called out that to her, and was angry, and cried, "Fiddle de dee, conceited thing, hold your tongue, and let your mother speak! "
What this Textopian page supports
The Maid of Brakel 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, Folklore, Humor, Religious
- Length: 183 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
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- Work identity for The Maid of Brakel by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Maid of Brakel?
- 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
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Genres
- Fairy Tale — The story features elements typical of fairy tales, such as a young maiden, a chapel, and a supernatural or mystical intervention.
- Folklore — The narrative is rooted in traditional folklore, with a focus on local customs and beliefs, particularly the invocation of a saint for personal desires.
- Humor — The story contains humorous elements, especially in the misunderstanding and the maiden's reaction to the voice she hears.
- Religious — The setting and invocation of Saint Anne indicate a religious context, reflecting the cultural and spiritual practices of the time.
Tags
Fairy Tale · German Folklore · Romance · Love Story · Marriage · Family · Social Hierarchy · Class System · Medieval Setting · 16th Century · Historical Fiction · Young Adult