The Three Wishes by Oliver Herford
A man encounters a goblin who offers him three wishes, promising to grant whatever he desires. Initially, the man expresses a longing for wealth, but the goblin warns him that riches can lead to misery. Realizing his mistake, the man wishes for wisdom instead. The goblin grants this wish, making the man wise for the first time. However, with newfound wisdom, the man reflects on his life and declares that he wishes he were dead, believing that wisdom brings only sorrow. The goblin grants this wish, suggesting that the man will never regain his previous ignorance. The narrative explores themes of desire, the consequences of wishes, and the paradox of wisdom, ultimately illustrating that the pursuit of wealth and knowledge can lead to unexpected and undesirable outcomes.
By Oliver Herford · First published 1911 · Genre: Fantasy, Poetry, Fable · 251 words
First lines
Once to a man a goblin came / And said to him, "If you will name / Three wishes, whatsoe'er they be, / They shall be granted instantly.
Think of three things you deem the best, / Express your wish -- ‘_we do the rest_. " / "O Goblin! " cried the man, "indeed / You're just the kind of a friend I need.
Hunger and Want I've known thus far, / I fain would learn what Riches are. " / "Then," cried the Goblin, "learn it well, / _Riches are title deeds to Hell_!
Now wish again."
What this Textopian page supports
The Three Wishes is listed on Textopian as a short story by Oliver Herford, dated 1911 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Oliver Herford
- Date: 1911 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fantasy, Poetry, Fable, Humor, Satire
- Length: 251 words
- Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
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- Work identity for The Three Wishes by Oliver Herford
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Genres
- Fantasy — The story involves magical elements such as a goblin granting wishes, which is a hallmark of the fantasy genre.
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing rhyme and meter typical of poetry.
- Fable — The narrative conveys a moral lesson about the consequences of one's wishes, characteristic of fables.
- Humor — The absurdity of the man's wishes and the goblin's responses provide a humorous tone throughout the poem.
Tags
Fairy Tale · Children's Literature · Fantasy · Magic · Wishes · Adventure · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Morality · Ethics · Good vs Evil