The Owl (fairy tale)

The Owl
Folk tale
Name	The Owl
Aarne–Thompson grouping	ATU 1281
Country	Germany
Published in	Grimms' Fairy Tales

"The Owl" is a German fairy tale collected by the Brothers Grimm in Grimm's Fairy Tales, number 174.^[1]

It is Aarne-Thompson type 1281, Burning the Barn to Destroy an Unknown Animal.^[2]

Synopsis[edit]

In the story, a horned owl flies into a barn owned by a local at the nearby town. The owl quickly frightens all of the townspeople who try to enter the barn. The same day, a man known for his courage and bravery in warlike skills announces to the populace that they are "all acting like women". He then ventures into the barn with a spear. The owl hoots at him, and he flees in terror. The townspeople finally come up with the decision to burn the barn down and be rid of the owl forever.

References[edit]

^ Jacob and Wilheim Grimm, Household Tales, "The Owl"
^ D.L. Ashliman, "The Grimm Brothers' Children's and Household Tales (Grimms' Fairy Tales)"

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Jacob Grimm · Wilhelm Grimm
Works	Grimms' Fairy Tales Deutsche Sagen Deutsche Mythologie Deutsches Wörterbuch
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