The White Snake
A young woman transforms into a white snake to escape an unwanted suitor. She lives in the forest with her sisters and is discovered by a prince who falls in love with her. The woman's true form is eventually revealed, but she is forced to return to her serpent form when the prince marries another woman.
By Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm · First published 1815 · Genre: Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Adventure · 1,844 words
First lines
A long time ago, there lived a King who was famed for his wisdom through all the land. Nothing was hidden from him, and it seemed as if news of the most secret things was brought to him through the air.
But he had a strange custom. Every day after dinner, when the table was cleared, and no one else was present, a trusty servant had to bring him one more dish. It was covered and even the servant did not know what was in it. Neither did any one know, for the King never took off the cover to eat of it, until he was quite alone.
What this Textopian page supports
The White Snake is listed on Textopian as a fable by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, dated 1815 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: 1815 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Adventure, Folklore, Romance
- Length: 1,844 words
- Structure: 1 section, 31 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The White Snake 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 Snake?
- 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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- The Drummer by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- The Six Servants by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
Genres
- Fairy Tale — The narrative follows a traditional fairy tale structure with magical elements, a moral lesson, and a happy ending.
- Fantasy — The story includes fantastical elements such as talking animals and magical objects, which are central to the plot.
- Adventure — The protagonist embarks on a journey filled with challenges and quests, typical of adventure stories.
- Folklore — The tale is rooted in cultural folklore, featuring archetypal characters and motifs common in traditional stories.
Tags
Fairy Tale · German Folklore · Romance · Fantasy · Magic · Snake · Transformation · Love Story · Good vs Evil · Friendship · Loyalty · Deception