The Three Sluggards by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm
Three brothers are tasked with fetching a load of wood from the forest to warm their mother's house for the night. The first brother sets off promptly but takes a nap along the way and returns late. The second brother also naps, but wakes up in time to fetch some water before returning home. The third brother does not start until evening, and when he finally arrives, his mother has already died from cold.
By Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm · First published 1819 · Genre: Fairy Tale, Fable, Humor · 259 words
First lines
A certain King had three sons who were all equally dear to him, and he did not know which of them to appoint as his successor after his own death. When the time came when he was about to die, he summoned them to his bedside and said, "Dear children, I have been thinking of something which I will declare unto you; whichsoever of you is the laziest shall have the kingdom. " The eldest said, "Then, father, the kingdom is mine, for I am so idle that if I lie down to rest, and a drop falls in my eye, I will not open it that I may sleep. " The second said; "Father, the kingdom belongs to me, for I am so idle that when I am sitting by the fire warming myself, I would rather let my heel be burnt off than draw back my leg. " The third said, "Father, the kingdom is mine, for I am so idle that if I were going to be hanged, and had the rope already round my neck, and any one put a sharp knife into my hand with which I might cut the rope, I would rather let myself be hanged than raise my hand to the rope. " When the father heard that, he said, "Thou hast carried it the farthest, and shalt be King. "
What this Textopian page supports
The Three Sluggards 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, Fable, Humor, Fantasy, Children's Literature
- Length: 259 words
- Structure: 1 section, 1 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Three Sluggards 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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Similar titles
- The Wise Servant by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- Clever Hans by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- Dummling And The Three Feathers by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- The Twelve Idle Servants by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- The Louse And The Flea by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- The Sole by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
Genres
- Fairy Tale — The story features a king, princes, and a moral lesson, typical of fairy tales.
- Fable — The narrative conveys a moral lesson about laziness through a simple story.
- Humor — The exaggerated claims of laziness by the sons provide comedic elements.
- Fantasy — The setting involves a fictional kingdom and royal family, common in fantasy.
Tags
Fairy Tale · German Folklore · Moral Lesson · Three Brothers · Lazy Characters · Punishment for Laziness · Reward for Hard Work · Animal Motifs · Fox and Hound · Forest Setting · Travel Narrative · Coming of Age