The Three Black Princesses
Three princesses are imprisoned in a tower by an evil queen who seeks to eat them. The youngest princess is rescued by a king and becomes his wife. She gives birth to three sons but the queen's curse causes them to be born with black skin.
By Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm · First published 1819 · Genre: Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Folklore · 813 words
First lines
East India was besieged by an enemy who would not retire until he had received six hundred dollars. Then the townsfolk caused it to be proclaimed by beat of drum that whosoever was able to procure the money should be burgomaster. Now there was a poor fisherman who fished on the lake with his son, and the enemy came and took the son prisoner, and gave the father six hundred dollars for him. So the father went and gave them to the great men of the town, and the enemy departed, and the fisherman became burgomaster. Then it was proclaimed that whosoever did not say, "Mr. Burgomaster," should be put to death on the gallows.
What this Textopian page supports
The Three Black Princesses is listed on Textopian as a fable by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, dated 1819 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: 1819 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Folklore, Adventure, Moral Tale
- Length: 813 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Three Black Princesses 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 Three Black Princesses?
- 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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- Zlatovlaska The Golden Haired The Story Of Yirik And The Snake by Parker Fillmore
Genres
- Fairy Tale — The story features magical elements, enchanted castles, and princesses, typical of fairy tales.
- Fantasy — The narrative includes fantastical elements such as enchanted castles and magical transformations.
- Folklore — The story is a traditional tale passed down through generations, characteristic of folklore.
- Adventure — The protagonist embarks on a journey involving challenges and encounters with magical beings.
Tags
Fairy Tale · German Folklore · Magic · Princesses · Three Sisters · Good vs Evil · Quest · Adventure · Fantasy · Mythology · Cultural Heritage · Traditional Storytelling