The Moon by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm
A young woman marries a man who turns out to be a werewolf. She discovers his true nature and flees, but he chases her. She seeks refuge with a hunter who kills the werewolf.
By Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm · First published 1815 · Genre: Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Folklore · 903 words
First lines
In days gone by there was a land where the nights were always dark, and the sky spread over it like a black cloth, for there the moon never rose, and no star shone in the obscurity. At the creation of the world, the light at night had been sufficient. Three young fellows once went out of this country on a travelling expedition, and arrived in another kingdom, where, in the evening when the sun had disappeared behind the mountains, a shining globe was placed on an oak-tree, which shed a soft light far and wide. By means of this, everything could very well be seen and distinguished, even though it was not so brilliant as the sun. The travellers stopped and asked a countryman who was driving past with his cart, what kind of a light that was. "That is the moon," answered he; "our mayor bought it for three thalers, and fastened it to the oak-tree. He has to pour oil into it daily, and to keep it clean, so that it may always burn clearly. He receives a thaler a week from us for doing it."
What this Textopian page supports
The Moon is listed on Textopian as a fable by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, dated 1815 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: 1815 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Folklore, Mythology, Adventure
- Length: 903 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Moon by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Moon?
- 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?
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Genres
- Fairy Tale — The narrative structure, magical elements, and moral lessons align with traditional fairy tale characteristics.
- Fantasy — The story includes fantastical elements such as a portable moon and the awakening of the dead, which are hallmarks of fantasy.
- Folklore — The tale reflects folklore traditions with its mythic themes and cultural storytelling style.
- Mythology — The story incorporates mythological motifs, such as celestial bodies and the intervention of a saint.
Tags
Fairy Tale · German Folklore · Short Story · Fantasy · Magic · Moon · Lunar Cycle · Mythology · Legend · Folkloric · Supernatural · Mystery