The White Bride and the Black One
A young woman marries a prince who is cursed to be a beast at night. She must find the magical flower that will break the curse before her wedding night.
By Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm · First published 1812 · Genre: Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Moral Story · 1,873 words
First lines
A woman was going about the unenclosed land with her daughter and her step-daughter cutting fodder, when the Lord came walking towards them in the form of a poor man, and asked, "Which is the way into the village? " "If you want to know," said the mother, "seek it for yourself," and the daughter added, "If you are afraid you will not find it, take a guide with you. " But the step-daughter said, "Poor man, I will take you there, come with me. " Then God was angry with the mother and daughter, and turned his back on them, and wished that they should become as black as night and as ugly as sin. To the poor step-daughter, however, God was gracious, and went with her, and when they were near the village, he said a blessing over her, and spake, "Choose three things for thyself, and I will grant them to thee. " Then said the maiden, "I should like to be as beautiful and fair as the sun," and instantly she was white and fair as day. "Then I should like to have a purse of money which would never grow empty. " That the Lord gave her also, but he said, "Do not forget what is best of all. " Said she, "For my third wish, I desire, after my death, to inhabit the eternal kingdom of Heaven. " That also was granted unto her, and then the Lord left her. When the step-mother came home with her daughter, and they saw that they were both as black as coal and ugly, but that the step-daughter was white and beautiful, wickedness increased still more in their hearts, and they thought of nothing else but how they could do her an injury.
What this Textopian page supports
The White Bride and the Black One 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, Folklore, Adventure
- Length: 1,873 words
- Structure: 1 section, 12 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The White Bride and the Black One 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 White Bride and the Black One?
- 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 Beam by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- The Three Apprentices by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- The Blue Light by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- The Gold Children by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- The Tale Of The Silver Saucer And The Crystal Apple by Alexander Nikolayevich Afanasyev
- The Glass Coffin by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
Genres
- Fairy Tale — The narrative follows a traditional fairy tale structure with elements of magic, moral lessons, and a clear distinction between good and evil characters.
- Fantasy — The story includes fantastical elements such as transformations, magical wishes, and divine intervention.
- Moral Story — The plot conveys moral lessons about kindness, virtue, and the consequences of wickedness.
- Folklore — The tale is rooted in folklore traditions, featuring archetypal characters and motifs common in cultural storytelling.
Tags
Fairy Tale · German Folklore · Marriage Story · Romance · Tragedy · Love Triangle · Social Hierarchy · Class Conflict · Racial Tension · Cultural Differences · Forbidden Love · Family Expectations