Thumbling as Journeyman

Name: Thumbling as Journeyman
Author: Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm

A young man sets out on a journey to make his fortune, but he is small in stature and lacks the skills necessary for success. He faces numerous challenges and setbacks, including poverty, hunger, and illness. Despite these difficulties, he perseveres and eventually becomes a skilled craftsman. However, his lack of social status and limited education hinder his ability to rise above his station in life.

By Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm · First published 1819 · Genre: Fairy Tale, Adventure, Fantasy · 1,945 words

First lines

A certain tailor had a son, who happened to be small, and no bigger than a Thumb, and on this account he was always called Thumbling. He had, however, some courage in him, and said to his father, "Father, I must and will go out into the world. " "That's right, my son," said the old man, and took a long darning-needle and made a knob of sealing-wax on it at the candle, "and there is a sword for thee to take with thee on the way. " Then the little tailor wanted to have one more meal with them, and hopped into the kitchen to see what his lady mother had cooked for the last time. It was, however, just dished up, and the dish stood on the hearth. Then he said, "Mother, what is there to eat to-day? " "See for thyself," said his mother. So Thumbling jumped on to the hearth, and peeped into the dish, but as he stretched his neck in too far the steam from the food caught hold of him, and carried him up the chimney. He rode about in the air on the steam for a while, until at length he sank down to the ground again. Now the little tailor was outside in the wide world, and he travelled about, and went to a master in his craft, but the food was not good enough for him. "Mistress, if you give us no better food," said Thumbling, "I will go away, and early to-morrow morning I will write with chalk on the door of your house, ‘Too many potatoes, too little meat! Farewell, Mr. Potato-King. " "What wouldst thou have forsooth, grasshopper? " said the mistress, and grew angry, and seized a dishcloth, and was just going to strike him; but my little tailor crept nimbly under a thimble, peeped out from beneath it, and put his tongue out at the mistress. She took up the thimble, and wanted to get hold of him, but little Thumbling hopped into the cloth, and while the mistress was opening it out and looking for him, he got into a crevice in the table.

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Thumbling as Journeyman is listed on Textopian as a short story by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, dated 1819 CE.

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Work type: Short story
Author: Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm
Date: 1819 CE
Language: English
Genres: Fairy Tale, Adventure, Fantasy, Children's Literature, Humor
Length: 1,945 words
Structure: 1 section, 12 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

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Discussion starters

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Similar titles

Genres

Fairy Tale — The story features magical elements, a small protagonist with extraordinary abilities, and a moral lesson, all typical of fairy tales.
Adventure — The protagonist embarks on a journey, encountering various challenges and adventures along the way.
Fantasy — The narrative includes fantastical elements such as a tiny human and interactions with talking animals.
Children's Literature — The story is written in a style and with themes that are accessible and appealing to children.