A Riddling Tale
| A Riddling Tale | |
|---|---|
| Folk tale | |
| Name | A Riddling Tale |
| Aarne–Thompson grouping | 407 |
| Country | Germany |
| Published in | Grimms' Fairy Tales |
A Riddling Tale is a German fairy tale collected by the Brothers Grimm in Grimm's Fairy Tales.[1]
It is Aarne-Thompson type 407, the girl as a flower.[2] The tale portion of it is subordinate to the riddle, and the tale is not widely found in the oral tradition.[3]
Story[edit]
Three women were changed to identical flowers. One was allowed home at night and told her husband to pick and free her. He did so.
Riddle[edit]
How did he recognize her?
Answer[edit]
The other flowers, having been in the field all night, had dew on them. The wife did not. So for that, he would know that that flower was his wife.
References[edit]
- ^ Jacob and Wilheim Grimm, Household Tales, "A Riddling Tale"
- ^ D.L. Ashliman, "The Grimm Brothers' Children's and Household Tales (Grimms' Fairy Tales)"
- ^ Stith Thompson, The Folktale, p 95, University of California Press, Berkeley Los Angeles London, 1977
