The Queen Bee
A young woman marries a widower with two children. She becomes the stepmother and treats them poorly. The children's father dies, and she orders them to be thrown into a well. A fisherman rescues them and takes them in. They are eventually discovered by their mother, who is now a queen.
By Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm · First published 1815 · Genre: Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Adventure · 921 words
First lines
Two King's Sons once went out in search of adventures, and fell into a wild, disorderly way of living, so that they never came home again. The youngest, who was called Simpleton, set out to seek his brothers. When at length he found them, they mocked him for thinking that he with his simplicity could get through the world, when they two could not make their way, and yet were so much cleverer.
They all three traveled away together, and came to an ant-hill. The two elder wanted to destroy it, to see the little ants creeping about in their terror, carrying their eggs away, but Simpleton said, "Leave the creatures in peace. I will not allow you to disturb them."
What this Textopian page supports
The Queen Bee 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, Children's Literature, Folklore
- Length: 921 words
- Structure: 1 section, 14 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Queen Bee 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 Queen Bee?
- 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
- Thumbling by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- Bird Found by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- Little Snow White by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- The Griffin by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- The Water Nix by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- The Little Peasant by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
Genres
- Fairy Tale — The story features magical elements, moral lessons, and a simpleton protagonist who succeeds through kindness, typical of fairy tales.
- Fantasy — The narrative includes fantastical elements such as enchanted castles, talking animals, and magical tasks.
- Adventure — The plot revolves around a journey with challenges and quests that the protagonist must overcome.
- Children's Literature — The story is written in a style and with themes suitable for children, including moral lessons and simple language.
Tags
Fairy Tale · German Folklore · Short Story · Fantasy · Magic · Transformation · Revenge · Jealousy · Envy · Social Hierarchy · Class Struggle · Female Empowerment