The Two Brothers
Two brothers are tasked with killing a giant who has been terrorizing their kingdom. They succeed but the younger brother's guilt over his role in the death of the giant drives him to madness and eventual death. The older brother, consumed by grief, becomes a hermit and eventually dies as well.
By Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm · First published 1812 · Genre: Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Adventure · 10,210 words
First lines
There were once upon a time two brothers, one rich and the other poor. The rich one was a goldsmith and evil-hearted. The poor one supported himself by making brooms, and was good and honourable. The poor one had two children, who were twin brothers and as like each other as two drops of water. The two boys went backwards and forwards to the rich house, and often got some of the scraps to eat. It happened once when the poor man was going into the forest to fetch brush-wood, that he saw a bird which was quite golden and more beautiful than any he had ever chanced to meet with. He picked up a small stone, threw it at him, and was lucky enough to hit him, but one golden feather only fell down, and the bird flew away. The man took the feather and carried it to his brother, who looked at it and said, "It is pure gold! " and gave him a great deal of money for it. Next day the man climbed into a birch-tree, and was about to cut off a couple of branches when the same bird flew out, and when the man searched he found a nest, and an egg lay inside it, which was of gold. He took the egg home with him, and carried it to his brother, who again said, "It is pure gold," and gave him what it was worth. At last the goldsmith said, "I should indeed like to have the bird itself. " The poor man went into the forest for the third time, and again saw the golden bird sitting on the tree, so he took a stone and brought it down and carried it to his brother, who gave him a great heap of gold for it. "Now I can get on," thought he, and went contentedly home.
What this Textopian page supports
The Two Brothers 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, Adventure, Folklore, Moral
- Length: 10,210 words
- Structure: 1 section, 43 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Two Brothers 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 Two Brothers?
- 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
- The Three Black Princesses by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- The Three Brothers by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- The Crystal Ball by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- Knoist And His Three Sons by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
Genres
- Fairy Tale — The story features magical elements, moral lessons, and fantastical creatures typical of fairy tales.
- Fantasy — The narrative includes fantastical elements such as a dragon, magical transformations, and enchanted forests.
- Adventure — The plot involves a journey, quests, and challenges faced by the protagonists.
- Folklore — The story is rooted in traditional folklore, with motifs common in folk narratives.
Tags
Fairy Tale · German Folklore · Brothers' Story · Magic · Fantasy · Adventure · Sibling Rivalry · Jealousy · Envy · Transformation · Good vs Evil · Coming of Age