The Old Woman in the Wood
A poor woodcutter's wife gives birth to a child who is left in the woods by her husband. A woodcutter finds the child and raises it as his own. The child grows up and marries, but eventually returns to its true parents. The story explores themes of identity, family, and social class.
By Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm · First published 1815 · Genre: Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Adventure · 1,079 words
First lines
A poor servant-girl was once travelling with the family with which she was in service, through a great forest, and when they were in the midst of it, robbers came out of the thicket, and murdered all they found. All perished together except the girl, who had jumped out of the carriage in a fright, and hidden herself behind a tree. When the robbers had gone away with their booty, she came out and beheld the great disaster. Then she began to weep bitterly, and said, "What can a poor girl like me do now? I do not know how to get out of the forest, no human being lives in it, so I must certainly starve. " She walked about and looked for a road, but could find none. When it was evening she seated herself under a tree, gave herself into God's keeping, and resolved to sit waiting there and not go away, let what might happen. When, however, she had sat there for a while, a white dove came flying to her with a little golden key in its mouth. It put the little key in her hand, and said, "Dost thou see that great tree, therein is a little lock, it opens with the tiny key, and there thou wilt find food enough, and suffer no more hunger. " Then she went to the tree and opened it, and found milk in a little dish, and white bread to break into it, so that she could eat her fill. When she was satisfied, she said, "It is now the time when the hens at home go to roost, I am so tired I could go to bed too."
What this Textopian page supports
The Old Woman in the Wood 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, Adventure, Romance, Folklore
- Length: 1,079 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Old Woman in the Wood 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 Old Woman in the Wood?
- 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 Bittern And The Hoopoe by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- The Twelve Brothers by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- The Frog King Or Iron Henry by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- The Cunning Little Tailor by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- The Two Brothers by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- The Frog King Or Iron Henry by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
Genres
- Fairy Tale — The story contains magical elements, a moral lesson, and a transformation, which are typical of fairy tales.
- Fantasy — The narrative includes fantastical elements such as talking animals, magical keys, and enchanted transformations.
- Adventure — The protagonist embarks on a journey through a forest, faces challenges, and ultimately finds a resolution.
- Romance — The story concludes with a romantic union between the protagonist and a prince.
Tags
Fairy Tale · German Folklore · Old Woman · Woodland Setting · Magic · Transformation · Revenge · Punishment · Morality · Cautionary Tale · Animal Transformation · Bear