The Youth who Could not Shudder
A young man is unable to shudder at the sight of a gruesome corpse, which leads him to be ostracized by his community. He eventually meets a witch who teaches him how to shudder and thus regain acceptance from society.
By Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm · First published 1816 · Genre: Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Horror · 4,444 words
First lines
There was once a Father who had two sons. One was clever and sensible, and always knew how to get on. But the younger one was stupid, and could not learn anything, and he had no imagination.
When people saw him, they said: 'His Father will have plenty of trouble with him.'
What this Textopian page supports
The Youth who Could not Shudder is listed on Textopian as a fable by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, dated 1816 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: 1816 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Horror, Adventure, Comedy
- Length: 4,444 words
- Structure: 1 section, 147 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Youth who Could not Shudder 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 Youth who Could not Shudder?
- 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?
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Genres
- Fairy Tale — The story features traditional fairy tale elements such as a quest, magical occurrences, and a moral lesson.
- Fantasy — The narrative includes supernatural elements like ghosts, enchanted castles, and magical transformations.
- Horror — The plot involves eerie and frightening scenarios, including encounters with ghosts and the dead.
- Adventure — The protagonist embarks on a journey filled with challenges and trials to achieve a personal goal.
Tags
Fairy Tale · German Folklore · Short Story · Supernatural Fiction · Horror · Mystery · Coming of Age · Psychological Thriller · Gothic Fiction · Dark Fantasy · Paranormal Activity · Isolation