Frau Trude
Introduction
Frau Trude is one of the shortest and coldest tales in the Brothers Grimm. There is no prince and no huntsman; a curious little girl walks into an old woman's cottage and never walks out. The story is a fable at heart, so we retell it here in the Chinese fable manner. In that tradition, characters come in two types only — the one who warns and the one who refuses to listen — and the plot moves in a single step from defiance to downfall. The old Chinese tale of Bian Que and the King of Cai works the same way: the physician warns three times, the king shrugs him off, and by the time the illness takes hold, it is far too late. Frau Trude simply swaps the illness for fire. The tale is often paired with Little Red Riding Hood, yet that girl is cut free from the wolf while no one comes to rescue this one. That is exactly the point: the old tellers wanted no rescuer, so the warning would stick. As you read, ask your child to follow the colours — a black collier, a green huntsman, a red butcher, and finally a head of fire, each step closer to the truth. When the story ends, do not rush to the lesson. Ask one question first: if it were you, at which step would you turn back?
Vocabulary from "Frau Trude"
12 key words from this story with definitions and original context sentences for language learners.
Said something clearly so that everyone could hear it.
宣布；郑重地说出。
One day she announced, "I keep hearing about Frau Trude. They say her cottage is full of wonders, and I must see them with my own eyes."
这一天她宣布：“我常听人说起特鲁德太太，说她的屋子里尽是些稀奇古怪的东西，我非要亲眼去看看。”
Very bad and evil on purpose.
邪恶的；恶毒的。
"Frau Trude is a wicked old woman," her father warned.
“特鲁德太太是个恶毒的老妇人，”父亲沉下脸警告她。
Very bad or frightening.
可怕的；糟糕的。
Dreadful things happen under her roof.
她那屋檐底下，尽出些见不得人的事。
Moved quietly so that no one noticed.
悄悄溜走（slip 的过去式）。
One grey afternoon, while her parents worked in the fields, the girl slipped out of the village.
这一日，天灰蒙蒙的，趁父母在田里忙活，小姑娘悄悄溜出了村子。
An old word for a man who digs or delivers coal.
（旧称）煤矿工人；送煤的人。
"That was only the collier who delivers my coal," said the old woman with a shrug.
“那不过是给我送煤的炭工罢了，”老妇人耸耸肩。
A man who hunts wild animals.
猎人。
"That was only a huntsman passing by with his gun," said the old woman, still calm.
“那不过是背着猎枪从门前路过的猎人罢了，”老妇人仍旧不慌不忙。
Went down slowly; became lower (past tense of sink).
下沉；降低（sink 的过去式）。
The girl's voice sank to a whisper.
小姑娘的声音压得更低了。
A person whose job is cutting and selling meat.
屠夫；肉贩。
"That was only a butcher carrying meat to the market," said the old woman.
“那不过是往集市送肉的屠夫罢了，”老妇人应道。
Clearly and without doubt.
清清楚楚地；明明白白地。
It was a thing with a head of burning fire. I saw it plainly.
那是一个长着燃烧火脑袋的东西。我看得真真切切。
Words or magic power that change things in a story.
咒语；魔法。
She whispered a spell, turned the girl into a log of wood, and tossed it into the fireplace.
她念了一句咒语，把小姑娘变成一截木头，丢进了壁炉。
Made short, sharp sounds like wood burning.
发出噼啪声（crackle 的过去式）。
The wood crackled and blazed.
木头在火里噼啪作响，越烧越旺。
Not paying attention to warnings or danger.
不听劝告的；不顾危险的。
And so the cottage fire gained a new log, and the world lost a heedless child.
从此，小屋的火塘里多了一根发光的柴火，世上却少了一个不听劝的孩子。
Reading Together & Learning More
The Moral
Curiosity is a treasure, but do not use it to push open the door your elders shut. When grown-ups bar your way, they usually know what lies behind it. To listen first is not cowardice; it is wisdom.
Educational Value
Children learn from this fable to weigh an elder's warning before they can tell "new" from "dangerous," and to see that curiosity is not the fault — recklessness is. It also gives them language for both giving and taking advice.
Tips for Parents
This tale has no happy ending, so read it only with children who can tell a story's scare from real life. Afterwards, gently make two things clear: being curious is not wrong — we only ask that you come to us first; and the fiery ending is an old way of giving a fright, not a promise that disobedience truly costs a life. Use it as a chance to talk about trust and safety, not as a threat.
Talk About It
- The parents stop the girl, yet they never say exactly what Frau Trude has done. Why do you think they do not spell it out?
- The girl first sees a black collier, then a green huntsman and a red butcher, and only at last a head of fire. If she had turned back at the first step, how might the story have gone?
- Frau Trude says, "I have waited for you a long time." Why do you think she was waiting? Does that mean danger plans ahead, or does it just happen by chance?
- This tale looks a lot like Little Red Riding Hood, yet that girl is saved by a huntsman while this one is not. Why do you think the storyteller left no rescuer on purpose?
- If you could give this story a different ending, what would it be? After your new ending, would children still remember the lesson about heeding advice?
