The Riddle
A young woman is forced to marry a man she has never met. She is given a riddle by her mother-in-law that must be solved within three days or face severe punishment. The riddle is: What can be broken, but never held? What can be given, but never sold?
By Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm · First published 1815 · Genre: Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Adventure · 1,351 words
First lines
There was once a King's son who was seized with a desire to travel about the world, and took no one with him but a faithful servant. One day he came to a great forest, and when darkness overtook him he could find no shelter, and knew not where to pass the night. Then he saw a girl who was going towards a small house, and when he came nearer, he saw that the maiden was young and beautiful. He spoke to her, and said, "Dear child, can I and my servant find shelter for the night in the little house? " "Oh, yes," said the girl in a sad voice, "that you certainly can, but I do not advise you to venture it. Do not go in. " "Why not? " asked the King's son. The maiden sighed and said, "My step-mother practises wicked arts; she is ill-disposed toward strangers. " Then he saw very well that he had come to the house of a witch, but as it was dark, and he could not go farther, and also was not afraid, he entered. The old woman was sitting in an armchair by the fire, and looked at the stranger with her red eyes. "Good evening," growled she, and pretended to be quite friendly. "Take a seat and rest yourselves. " She blew up the fire on which she was cooking something in a small pot.
What this Textopian page supports
The Riddle 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, Mystery
- Length: 1,351 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Riddle 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 Riddle?
- 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 classic fairy tale elements such as a prince, a witch, a riddle, and a moral lesson.
- Fantasy — Incorporates magical elements like witches, enchanted objects, and improbable events.
- Adventure — The protagonist embarks on a journey filled with challenges and encounters with various characters.
- Romance — The plot involves a romantic pursuit of a princess through the solving of a riddle.
Tags
Fairy Tale · German Folklore · Magic Realism · Fantasy · Adventure · Quest · Mystery · Riddle · Puzzle · Enchantment · Mythology · Legend