Beauty and the Horns: the Story of an Enchanted

A wealthy man's dying wish to his son, Danilo, is to avoid the enchanted maiden known as Peerless Beauty and marry a sensible village girl instead. However, the mere mention of her name ignites Danilo's obsession. Despite warnings from his uncle and village elders about the dangers of pursuing her, he embarks on a quest to find Peerless Beauty, driven by curiosity and desire. After exhausting his wealth in attempts to see her, Danilo discovers a magic cap that grants him invisibility. Using it, he sneaks into her chamber and is captivated by her beauty. However, when he reveals himself, she tricks him into giving her the cap, leaving him powerless. Desperate, he returns home and searches for hidden treasures, eventually finding a magic pitcher that summons an army. With this newfound power, Danilo threatens Peerless Beauty, who, realizing her predicament, surrenders. Yet, when he reveals the source of his power, she tricks him again, leading to his exile. In the wilderness, Danilo discovers that eating red grapes gives him horns, while white grapes remove them. He devises a plan to return to the castle disguised as a grape seller. Peerless Beauty, intrigued, sends her maid to buy grapes, leading to chaos when the maid and then Beauty herself grow horns after eating the red grapes. In her desperation, she seeks a cure, and Danilo, disguised as a physician, offers to help if she confesses her wrongdoings. After several attempts, she finally reveals her misdeeds, including stealing the magic pitcher and cap. Once she is cured, Danilo reveals his identity. Peerless Beauty, now humbled, begs for forgiveness and promises to be a devoted wife. They marry, and with the help of the magic pitcher, return to Danilo's village, where they live happily ever after, despite the old men claiming credit for his adventures. The story concludes with the affirmation of their love and happiness, overshadowing the earlier warnings and misadventures.

By Parker Fillmore · First published 1920 · Genre: Fantasy, Fairy Tale, Romance · 4,675 words

First lines

There was once a rich man who when he was dying called his son to his bedside and said:

"Danilo, my son, I am leaving you my riches. The only thing I ask of you is this: close your ears to all reports of an enchanted maiden who is known as Peerless Beauty and when the time comes that you wish to marry choose for wife some quiet sensible girl of your native village."

What this Textopian page supports

Beauty and the Horns: the Story of an Enchanted Maiden is listed on Textopian as a novel by Parker Fillmore, dated 1920 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

• Work type: Novel
• Author: Parker Fillmore
• Date: 1920 CE
• Language: English
• Genres: Fantasy, Fairy Tale, Romance, Adventure, Folklore
• Length: 4,675 words
• Structure: 1 section, 145 paragraphs
• Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

Good citation fit

• Work identity for Beauty and the Horns: the Story of an Enchanted Maiden by Parker Fillmore
• 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 Beauty and the Horns: the Story of an Enchanted Maiden?
• How does this novel by Parker Fillmore fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
• Where does Fantasy first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

• The Tale Of The Silver Saucer And The Crystal Apple by Alexander Nikolayevich Afanasyev
• The Jew Among The Thorns by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
• Marya Moryevna by Alexander Nikolayevich Afanasyev
• The Spindle The Shuttle And The Needle by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
• The Wooing Of Becfola by James Stephens
• A Leaf From The Sky by Hans Christian Andersen

Genres

• Fantasy — The story features magical elements such as an enchanted maiden, a magic cap, and a magic pitcher, which are central to the plot.
• Fairy Tale — The narrative structure and themes align with traditional fairy tales, including quests, enchantments, and moral lessons.
• Romance — The central plot revolves around Danilo's infatuation and eventual love for Peerless Beauty, highlighting romantic themes.
• Adventure — Danilo's journey to find Peerless Beauty involves travel, challenges, and encounters that characterize an adventure narrative.

Tags

Fantasy · Romance · Fairy Tale · Magic Realism · Enchanted Maiden · Love Story · Mythical Creatures · Horns as Symbolism · Beauty and the Beast Retelling · Coming of Age · Self Discovery · Good vs Evil

More by Parker Fillmore

• The Hickory Limb (1907)
• The Laughing Prince: the Story of the Boy who Could Talk Nonsense (1925)
• The Pigeon's Bride: the Story of a Princess who Kissed and Told (1930)
• The Little Lame Fox: the Story of the Youngest Brother who Found the Magic Grape-Vine and Married the Golden Maiden (1920)
• The Enchanted Peafowl: the Story of the Golden Apples, the Wicked Dragon, and the Magic Horse (1930)
• The Dragon's Strength: the Story of the Youngest Prince who Killed the Sparrow (1930)
• The Little Singing Frog: the Story of a Girl Whose Parents were Ashamed of Her (1930)
• The Nightingale in the Mosque: the Story of the Sultan's Youngest Son and the Princess Flower o' the World (1930)
• All works by Parker Fillmore