The Tailor in Heaven
A poor tailor dies and is sent to heaven, where he is met with a series of trials that test his worthiness for entry. He is forced to sew the clothes of the damned souls in hell, but eventually earns his place among the blessed by sewing a beautiful shirt for God himself.
By Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm · First published 1815 · Genre: Fairy Tale, Fable, Religious Fiction · 906 words
First lines
One very fine day it came to pass that the good God wished to enjoy himself in the heavenly garden, and took all the apostles and saints with him, so that no one stayed in heaven but Saint Peter. The Lord had commanded him to let no one in during his absence, so Peter stood by the door and kept watch. Before long some one knocked. Peter asked who was there, and what he wanted? "I am a poor, honest tailor who prays for admission," replied a smooth voice. "Honest indeed," said Peter, "like the thief on the gallows! Thou hast been light-fingered and hast snipped folks' clothes away. Thou wilt not get into heaven. The Lord hath forbidden me to let any one in while he is out. " "Come, do be merciful," cried the tailor. "Little scraps which fall off the table of their own accord are not stolen, and are not worth speaking about. Look, I am lame, and have blisters on my feet with walking here, I cannot possibly turn back again. Only let me in, and I will do all the rough work. I will carry the children, and wash their clothes, and wash and clean the benches on which they have been playing, and patch all their torn clothes. " Saint Peter let himself be moved by pity, and opened the door of heaven just wide enough for the lame tailor to slip his lean body in.
What this Textopian page supports
The Tailor in Heaven 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, Fable, Religious Fiction, Humor, Fantasy
- Length: 906 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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- Work identity for The Tailor in Heaven 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
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Tailor in Heaven?
- 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 Flail From Heaven by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- The Beam by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- Knoist And His Three Sons by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- The Cunning Little Tailor by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- Herr Korbes by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- The Good Bargain by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
Genres
- Fairy Tale — The narrative follows a traditional fairy tale structure with moral lessons, fantastical elements, and a simple plot.
- Fable — The story conveys a moral lesson about judgment and mercy, typical of fables.
- Religious Fiction — The setting and characters are rooted in religious themes, involving heaven, God, and saints.
- Humor — The tale includes humorous elements, particularly in the tailor's antics and the ironic twist of events.
Tags
Fairy Tale · German Folklore · Death · Afterlife · Heaven · Tailor · Occupational Fantasy · Moral Lesson · Punishment · Reward · Good vs Evil · Morality Play