The Wilful Child
This tale revolves around a child who refuses to obey his parents, leading them to abandon him in the forest. The child's defiance and disobedience ultimately lead to his downfall.
By Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm · First published 1819 · Genre: Fairy Tale, Moral Story, Folklore · 160 words
First lines
Once upon a time there was a child who was willful, and would not do at her mother wished. For this reason God had no pleasure in her, and let her become ill, and no doctor could do her any good, and in a short time she lay on her death-bed. When she had been lowered into her grave, and the earth was spread over her, all at once her arm came out again, and stretched upwards, and when they had put it in and spread fresh earth over it, it was all to no purpose, for the arm always came out again. Then the mother herself was obliged to go to the grave, and strike the arm with a rod, and when she had done that, it was drawn in, and then at last the child had rest beneath the ground.
What this Textopian page supports
The Wilful Child 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, Moral Story, Folklore, Horror, Parable
- Length: 160 words
- Structure: 1 section, 1 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Wilful Child 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 Wilful Child?
- 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 Peasant In Heaven by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- The Goblin And The Huckster by Hans Christian Andersen
- Sweet Porridge by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- One Eye Two Eyes And Three Eyes by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- Donkey Cabbages by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- The Money Box by Hans Christian Andersen
Genres
- Fairy Tale — The narrative follows a traditional fairy tale structure with moral lessons and supernatural elements.
- Moral Story — The story conveys a clear moral about obedience and consequences, typical of moral tales.
- Folklore — The tale is rooted in cultural folklore, reflecting societal norms and beliefs.
- Horror — The imagery of the child's arm emerging from the grave introduces elements of horror.
Tags
Fairy Tale · Children's Literature · German Folklore · Short Story · Fantasy · Adventure · Moral Lesson · Coming of Age · Self-Discovery · Childhood Innocence · Naivety · Deception