Fundevogel

Author: A Brothers Grimm Tale · Retold as a Fable by DozyStories

  • Age4–8
  • Reading time5 min
  • LevelBeginner

Introduction

Fundevogel is one of the rarer Grimm tales, because it is not about a prince or a princess. It is about two children who hold hands and run for their lives, and the only magic they need is a promise: stay with me, and I will stay with you. That is why we retold it as a fable. A fable is a short story built around one plain truth, and this tale has exactly that shape: danger comes, the vow is spoken, a shape is chosen, and the danger passes. The children's words echo an old Chinese saying, "two hearts united cut through iron" — when people stand together, hard roads grow short. Before you read, ask your child what he or she would turn into to hide from a bad person; after reading, ask why the children always speak the vow before they change shape. You may notice the story is dark in parts: the cook means to boil the boy, and at the end the duck drags her under the water. That is the old Grimm ending, and folk tales often punish the wicked. Use it to talk about the simple belief that evil deeds bring evil results — without dwelling on the violence. Let the child take away the heart of the tale: a friend kept close is a friend kept safe.

Font Size
1 / 8
Stopped
Fundevogel - A forester saves a baby from the top of a tree, names him Fundevogel, and raises him with his daughter Lina — but the old cook secretly plans to boil the boy. - Scene Illustration 1
A forester saves a baby from the top of a tree, names him Fundevogel, and raises him with his daughter Lina — but the old cook secretly plans to boil the boy.
Long ago, a forester lived by a great forest. One day he went in to hunt, and he heard a child crying high above him. He looked up. There, at the top of a tall tree, sat a little baby. A big bird had swooped down, snatched the baby from his sleeping mother, and dropped him high in the tree.
The forester climbed up, took the baby down, and carried him home. He raised the boy with his own daughter, Lina. Because a bird had carried the boy off, they named him Fundevogel, which means "found bird." The two children ate together and played together. When they could not see each other, they felt sad.
The forester had an old cook with a cruel heart. One evening she carried water from the spring, again and again. Lina watched her and asked, "Old Sanna, why do you fetch so much water?" The cook said, "Promise not to tell, and I will tell you." Lina promised. Then the cook whispered, "Tomorrow, when the forester goes hunting, I will boil a pot of water and throw Fundevogel into it."
Fundevogel - Lina tells Fundevogel the evil plan. The two children vow never to part and flee before dawn, while the terrified cook sends servants after them. - Scene Illustration 2
Lina tells Fundevogel the evil plan. The two children vow never to part and flee before dawn, while the terrified cook sends servants after them.
Early the next morning, the forester left for the forest. Lina woke Fundevogel and said, "Stay with me, and I will stay with you." "Not now, not ever," said Fundevogel. Then Lina told him the cook's wicked plan. The two children dressed in a hurry and slipped out of the house before the sun rose.
When the water boiled, the cook went to the bedroom to catch Fundevogel. But the beds were empty. The children were gone. The cook turned pale with fear. "What will I say when the forester returns?" she cried. At once she sent three servants to chase the children.
Fundevogel - The servants reach the forest edge, but the children have become a rose tree and a rose. The servants return empty-handed, and the angry cook orders them to cut the tree down. - Scene Illustration 3
The servants reach the forest edge, but the children have become a rose tree and a rose. The servants return empty-handed, and the angry cook orders them to cut the tree down.
The children rested at the edge of the forest, and far away they saw the servants coming. "Stay with me," said Lina, "and I will stay with you." "Not now, not ever," said Fundevogel. "Then be a rose tree," said Lina, "and I will be the rose upon it." The three servants came near. They saw only a rose tree with one flower. They went home with empty hands. The cook scolded them. "You fools! You should have cut down the rose tree and carried the rose home!"
Fundevogel - The servants chase again, but the children turn into a church and a lamp. Failing once more, the furious cook decides to go after them herself. - Scene Illustration 4
The servants chase again, but the children turn into a church and a lamp. Failing once more, the furious cook decides to go after them herself.
The servants set out again. The children saw them far away and spoke the vow once more. "Stay with me," said Lina, "and I will stay with you." "Not now, not ever," said Fundevogel. "Then be a church," said Lina, "and I will be the lamp glowing inside it." The servants found only a church with a lamp glowing within. Again they went home with nothing. The cook was very angry. "You fools! You should have torn down the church and taken the lamp!" At last she said, "I will go myself." So she set off, and the three servants followed.
Fundevogel - The cook comes herself, and the children become a fishpond and a duck. The duck pulls the cook into the water, and the children return home to live in peace. - Scene Illustration 5
The cook comes herself, and the children become a fishpond and a duck. The duck pulls the cook into the water, and the children return home to live in peace.
This time the children saw the cook waddling behind the servants. They were not afraid. "Stay with me," said Lina, "and I will stay with you." "Not now, not ever," said Fundevogel. "Then be a fishpond," said Lina, "and I will be the duck upon it." The cook came to the pond. She lay down at the edge, opened her mouth wide, and tried to drink the water dry. The duck swam over calmly, caught her head in its beak, and dragged her into the water. The cruel cook was never seen again. Hand in hand, the two children went home and lived in peace. This tale teaches us: when two hearts stay together, no road is too hard; those who harm others often harm themselves.

Vocabulary from "Fundevogel"

12 key words from this story with definitions and original context sentences for language learners.

foresterB2
/ˈfɒrɪstə/n.

Someone whose job is to look after a forest.

护林人；林务员。

Long ago, a forester lived by a great forest.

从前，林子边上住着一位护林人。

swooped(swoop)C1
/swuːpt/v.

Flew down suddenly and steeply from the sky.

俯冲；猛扑而下。

A big bird had swooped down, snatched the baby from his sleeping mother, and dropped him high in the tree.

一只大鸟凌空扑下，叼起娃娃，把他放到了树顶上。

snatched(snatch)B2
/snætʃt/v.

Took something quickly and suddenly.

猛地抓走；一把夺去。

A big bird had swooped down, snatched the baby from his sleeping mother, and dropped him high in the tree.

一只大鸟凌空扑下，叼起娃娃，把他放到了树顶上。

cruelB1
/ˈkruːəl/adj.

Wanting to hurt others; very unkind.

残忍的；恶毒的。

The forester had an old cook with a cruel heart.

护林人家里有个老厨娘，心肠歹毒。

vowB2
/vaʊ/n.

A serious promise to do something.

誓言；郑重许下的承诺。

The children saw them far away and spoke the vow once more.

孩子们远远望见，又把誓言念了一遍。

scolded(scold)B2
/ˈskəʊldɪd/v.

Spoke angrily to someone who had done wrong.

训斥；责骂。

The cook scolded them.

厨娘把他们好一顿骂。

fools(fool)B1
/fuːlz/n.

People who are silly and do not think before they act.

蠢人；傻瓜。

"You fools! You should have cut down the rose tree and carried the rose home!"

“你们这些呆子！该把玫瑰树拦腰砍断，把花摘回来才是！”

glowing(glow)B2
/ˈɡləʊɪŋ/v.

Shining with a soft, warm light.

发出柔和的光；莹莹发亮。

"Then be a church," said Lina, "and I will be the lamp glowing inside it."

“那你变作一座教堂，”莉娜说，“我就是里面那盏水晶灯。”

waddling(waddle)C1
/ˈwɒdlɪŋ/v.

Walking with short steps, rocking from side to side.

一摇一摆地走。

This time the children saw the cook waddling behind the servants.

这一回，孩子们望见厨娘一摇一摆地跟在仆人身后。

beakB1
/biːk/n.

The hard, pointed mouth of a bird.

鸟嘴；喙。

The duck swam over calmly, caught her head in its beak, and dragged her into the water.

鸭子不慌不忙游将过来，一口叼住她的头，拖进了水里。

dragged(drag)B1
/dræɡd/v.

Pulled something along with force.

拖；拽。

The duck swam over calmly, caught her head in its beak, and dragged her into the water.

鸭子不慌不忙游将过来，一口叼住她的头，拖进了水里。

harmB1
/hɑːm/v.

To hurt someone or something.

伤害；损害。

This tale teaches us: when two hearts stay together, no road is too hard; those who harm others often harm themselves.

这故事告诉我们：两人一条心，再险的路也走得过去；害人的人，终将害了自己。

Reading Together & Learning More

The Moral

When two hearts stay together, no road is too hard; those who break their word and do harm only hurt themselves in the end.

Educational Value

Helps children understand the power of keeping a promise and standing by a friend; the repeated vow is easy for young learners to chant and remember.

Tips for Parents

Chant the vow together every time it appears and feel its power grow. After reading, ask: what truly protects the children — the magic, or their promise never to part? If your child asks about the cook, talk gently about how hurting others hurts yourself.

Talk About It

  1. Before every escape, the children speak the vow "stay with me, and I will stay with you." Why do you think those words matter so much to them?
  2. If you were running from a bad person, what would you most want to turn into to hide? Why?
  3. The cook only wanted to hurt Fundevogel. Lina could have stayed safe at home. Why did she run away with her friend instead?
  4. What really saved the children — the magic of changing shape, or their trust in each other? What do you think?
  5. Is there someone in your life you would protect the way Lina protects Fundevogel? What would you say to that person?

You May Also Like

Bearskin - A Brothers Grimm Tale · Retold as a Fable by DozyStories - Fairy Tale Illustration

Bearskin

Long ago, a poor soldier with nowhere to go made a seven-year pact with the Devil: no washing, no combing, no cutting, no prayer, in exchange for endless gold. Wrapped in a bearskin, he wandered the world — feared by all, yet kind at heart, giving to the poor wherever he went. On the seventh year he found his faithful bride with a broken ring, while her two vain sisters were undone by their own envy.

A Brothers Grimm Tale · Retold as a Fable by DozyStories
A Riddling Tale - A Brothers Grimm Tale · Retold as a Fable by DozyStories - Fairy Tale Illustration

A Riddling Tale

Three women are turned into flowers that look exactly alike. How does a husband pick out his own wife? The answer hides in a single drop of dew.

A Brothers Grimm Tale · Retold as a Fable by DozyStories
The Rabbit and the Maiden - A Brothers Grimm Tale · Retold as a Fable by DozyStories - Fairy Tale Illustration

The Rabbit and the Maiden

For three days a hare steals the cabbages, then tricks the maiden onto its tail and carries her home to be its bride. The maiden turns the trick around, leaves a straw double in her place, and slips home unnoticed.

A Brothers Grimm Tale · Retold as a Fable by DozyStories