The Three Apprentices
Three apprentices are sent to a miller's house to learn the trade of milling. They are tasked with grinding grain but instead spend their time drinking and playing cards. The miller discovers their deception and punishes them by forcing them to grind grain for three days without rest, after which they are dismissed.
By Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm · First published 1812 · Genre: Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Moral Story · 1,466 words
First lines
There were once three apprentices, who had agreed to keep always together while travelling, and always to work in the same town. At one time, however, their masters had no more work to give them, so that at last they were in rags, and had nothing to live on. Then one of them said, "What shall we do? We cannot stay here any longer, we will travel once more, and if we do not find any work in the town we go to, we will arrange with the innkeeper there, that we are to write and tell him where we are staying, so that we can always have news of each other, and then we will separate. " And that seemed best to the others also. They went forth, and met on the way a richly-dressed man who asked who they were. "We are apprentices looking for work; Up to this time we have kept together, but if we cannot find anything to do we are going to separate. " "There is no need for that," said the man, "if you will do what I tell you, you shall not want for gold or for work; nay, you shall become great lords, and drive in your carriages! " One of them said, "If our souls and salvation be not endangered, we will certainly do it. " "They will not," replied the man, "I have no claim on you. " One of the others had, however, looked at his feet, and when he saw a horse's foot and a man's foot, he did not want to have anything to do with him.
What this Textopian page supports
The Three Apprentices is listed on Textopian as a fable by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, dated 1812 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: 1812 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Moral Story, Adventure, Folklore
- Length: 1,466 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Three Apprentices 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 Three Apprentices?
- 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 Spirit In The Bottle by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- The Nix Of The Mill Pond by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- Ivashko And The Wise Woman by Alexander Nikolayevich Afanasyev
- The Water Of Life by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- The Young Giant by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- The Tale Of The Silver Saucer And The Crystal Apple by Alexander Nikolayevich Afanasyev
Genres
- Fairy Tale — The story features fantastical elements, moral lessons, and a narrative style typical of traditional fairy tales.
- Fantasy — Involves supernatural characters like the Devil and magical occurrences, such as the apprentices' pact and their eventual rescue.
- Moral Story — Contains a moral lesson about greed, deception, and justice, with the innkeeper's punishment serving as a cautionary tale.
- Adventure — Follows the journey of the three apprentices as they travel and encounter various challenges.
Tags
Fairy Tale · German Folklore · Magic Realism · Coming of Age · Adventure · Friendship · Mentorship · Apprenticeship · Self-Discovery · Personal Growth · Fantasy · Mythology