Gambling Hansel

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

Age8–12
Reading time8 min
LevelIntermediate

Introduction

"Gambling Hansel" is a curious tale from the Brothers Grimm (in Low German, "De Spielhansl"), which folklorists place in the family of stories about a sly little nobody outwitting Death and Hell. We have retold it as a fable, not by changing the plot but by changing the voice. A fable speaks plainly: the characters are simple, the turns are quick, and the ending names the lesson. That suits this tale well, because underneath all the laughter it is really a warning about greed. It is the kind of lesson our own folk tales have told for centuries: what you crave can become your cage. Chinese readers will recognize the same spirit in the old saying "the snake that swallows an elephant dies of hunger" — the more it grabs, the more it destroys. There is also a scholarly curiosity here: some researchers believe stories of this type may be among the oldest in the world, passed down for thousands of years, perhaps since the Bronze Age. Yet children do not need to know that to enjoy it. They will laugh at how a gambler tricks Death into a tree and wins the devils' souls, and they will feel the sting of the ending, when a man who could win everything has nowhere to go. As you read together, ask your child why Hansel never asked for a warm home or a peaceful heart. The story never answers that question in words — it answers it with his fate, and it is a question worth carrying long after the book is closed.

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Gambling Hansel - Hansel, who loves gambling more than anything, has lost his house and all his money, yet he welcomes the Lord and Saint Peter with a barrel of magic wine; offered three wishes, he asks not for Heaven but for winning cards, winning dice, and a tree that holds anyone who climbs it. - Scene Illustration 1 — Hansel, who loves gambling more than anything, has lost his house and all his money, yet he welcomes the Lord and Saint Peter with a barrel of magic wine; offered three wishes, he asks not for Heaven but for winning cards, winning dice, and a tree that holds anyone who climbs it.

Long ago, there lived a man named Hansel who loved to gamble more than anything else in the world. He played day and night, until he lost his house and all his money. People stopped using his real name and simply called him Gambling Hansel.

One evening, two travelers came to his door and asked for shelter for the night. They were the Lord and Saint Peter, though Hansel did not know it. "You may stay," he said, "but I have no bed and no food to give you." The Lord smiled and said, "Just let us in. We will buy our own food." So Saint Peter handed Hansel three coins and asked him to fetch some bread from the baker.

Hansel set off at once. But on the way, he passed the house where his gambling friends were having a game. They called him inside, and before he knew it, his three coins were gone. When he came home, he pretended that the money had fallen into the gutter. The Lord saw through his lie but said nothing. Saint Peter gave him three more coins, and this time Hansel bought the bread and came straight home.

Then the Lord asked, "Do you have any wine?" Hansel shook his head. "The barrels are all empty," he said. But the Lord told him to go down to the cellar and look again. Hansel did not believe it, yet when he turned the tap, the finest wine came pouring out. So the two guests enjoyed a good dinner and a cozy night under his roof.

The next morning, the Lord said, "You have been kind to us, so I will grant you three wishes." He hoped Hansel would ask to enter Heaven. But Hansel only thought of his old habit. He asked for three things. First, a pack of cards that always wins. Second, a pair of dice that always wins. Third, a tree full of fruit that holds anyone who climbs it, until he says the word. The Lord gave him all three, and then he and Saint Peter went on their way.

Gambling Hansel - Hansel wins half the world with his magic cards and dice. When Death comes for him, Hansel tricks him into climbing the magic tree, and Death stays trapped there for seven years, so that no one on earth dies. - Scene Illustration 2 — Hansel wins half the world with his magic cards and dice. When Death comes for him, Hansel tricks him into climbing the magic tree, and Death stays trapped there for seven years, so that no one on earth dies.

From that day on, Gambling Hansel never lost a single game. His magic cards and dice brought him gold, land, and treasures, and soon he had won half the world. Then Saint Peter grew worried. "Lord," he said, "if this goes on, Hansel will win the whole world. We must send Death to fetch him."

So Death came to Hansel's door. "Hansel," said Death, "your time has come. Come with me." Hansel was in the middle of a game, so he answered, "Wait until I finish this round. While you wait, why not climb that tree outside and pick some fruit for the road?" Death thought this was a fine idea and climbed up.

But it was the magic tree the Lord had given him. Once Death climbed up, he could not climb down again. Hansel laughed and left him there, and for seven long years Death stayed stuck in the branches. During all that time, no one on earth died at all.

Gambling Hansel - The Lord comes in person and orders Hansel to set Death free, and Death ends Hansel's life at once. Then Hansel's soul knocks on the gates of Heaven and Purgatory, but both places refuse to let him in. - Scene Illustration 3 — The Lord comes in person and orders Hansel to set Death free, and Death ends Hansel's life at once. Then Hansel's soul knocks on the gates of Heaven and Purgatory, but both places refuse to let him in.

After seven years, Saint Peter said to the Lord, "Lord, this cannot go on. People are living forever, and the world is getting crowded. We must go down and settle this ourselves." So they went to Hansel's house, and the Lord ordered him to let Death come down. Hansel obeyed and called out, "You may come down now." Death jumped to the ground, grabbed Hansel at once, and ended his life on the spot.

Then Hansel's soul drifted up to Heaven and knocked on the gate. "Who is there?" a voice asked. "It is I, Gambling Hansel." "Oh no," said the voice. "We want nothing to do with a gambler. Be on your way!"

So Hansel went to the gate of Purgatory and knocked again. "Who is knocking?" someone asked. "Gambling Hansel." "This place is already full of sighs and tears," said the voice. "We have no use for a gambler here. Leave us in peace."

Gambling Hansel - Hansel knocks on the door of Hell and finds only old Lucifer and a few crooked devils at home. He sits down to gamble at once and wins every devil from Lucifer with his magic cards. - Scene Illustration 4 — Hansel knocks on the door of Hell and finds only old Lucifer and a few crooked devils at home. He sits down to gamble at once and wins every devil from Lucifer with his magic cards.

At last Hansel knocked on the door of Hell, and there they let him in. The great hall was almost empty, for only old Lucifer and a few crooked little devils were at home, resting after their wicked work on earth.

Hansel sat down at once and called for a game. Lucifer had nothing left to wager but his devils, and with his magic cards Hansel won them one by one. Lucifer could only stare in anger, for he had nothing else to lose.

Gambling Hansel - Hansel marches on Heaven with his army of devils and a hop-pole, and Heaven must let him in. But he gambles so noisily that he is flung out, and his soul bursts into pieces that become the gamblers of today. - Scene Illustration 5 — Hansel marches on Heaven with his army of devils and a hop-pole, and Heaven must let him in. But he gambles so noisily that he is flung out, and his soul bursts into pieces that become the gamblers of today.

Then Hansel marched out with his little army of devils. They went to a place called Hohenfuert, pulled up a long pole used for drying hops, and carried it to the gate of Heaven. Then they began to push and poke the pole against the gate until Heaven itself started to crack.

Saint Peter was frightened. "Lord," he said, "we must let him in, or he will push us right out of Heaven." So the gates were opened, and Hansel stepped inside.

But the moment Hansel entered Heaven, he sat down and started to gamble again. The noise was so great that nobody could hear a single word. Saint Peter said once more, "Lord, we must throw him out, or he will turn all of Heaven upside down."

So they seized Hansel and flung him out of the gate, and his soul burst into a thousand pieces. Those pieces flew down to earth and slipped into the bodies of gamblers, and they are still there to this day. Whoever lets greed and gambling rule his heart will lose everything in the end — even a place to call home. That is the story of Gambling Hansel.

Vocabulary from "Gambling Hansel"

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

gambleB2

/ˈɡæmbl/v.

To risk money on a game of chance.

赌博；赌钱。

Long ago, there lived a man named Hansel who loved to gamble more than anything else in the world.
从前，有个叫汉赛尔的人，最爱赌钱，别的什么都不放在心上。

shelterB1

/ˈʃeltə/n.

A place that keeps you safe from weather or danger.

栖身之所；遮风挡雨的地方。

One evening, two travelers came to his door and asked for shelter for the night.
有一天傍晚，两个赶路的客人来敲他的门，想借宿一晚。

fetchB1

/fetʃ/v.

To go and bring something back.

去取；去拿来。

So Saint Peter handed Hansel three coins and asked him to fetch some bread from the baker.
圣彼得便拿出三枚钱交给汉赛尔，叫他去面包房买些面包回来。

pretendB1

/prɪˈtend/v.

To act as if something is true when it is not.

假装；装作。

When he came home, he pretended that the money had fallen into the gutter.
回到家里，他撒谎说钱掉进了阴沟里。

gutterB2

/ˈɡʌtə/n.

The channel at the edge of a road that carries away water.

路边的水沟；阴沟。

When he came home, he pretended that the money had fallen into the gutter.
回到家里，他撒谎说钱掉进了阴沟里。

cellarB1

/ˈselə/n.

A room under a house, often used for storing wine.

地窖；酒窖。

But the Lord told him to go down to the cellar and look again.
主却叫他下到地窖里再找找。

grantB2

/ɡrɑːnt/v.

To give someone what they ask for.

答应给予；允诺。

The next morning, the Lord said, "You have been kind to us, so I will grant you three wishes."
第二天清晨，主说：“你款待了我们，我要许你三个愿望。”

diceB2

/daɪs/n.

Small cubes with spots, thrown in games of chance.

骰子（掷出点数的赌具）。

Second, a pair of dice that always wins.
第二样，一副逢赌必赢的骰子。

crookedB2

/ˈkrʊkɪd/adj.

Not straight; bent or twisted.

弯曲的；歪歪扭扭的。

The great hall was almost empty, for only old Lucifer and a few crooked little devils were at home, resting after their wicked work on earth.
只见屋里冷冷清清，只有老路西法和一群歪七扭八的小鬼，它们刚从人间做完坏事回来。

wagerC1

/ˈweɪdʒə/v.

To risk money on the result of a game.

下注；押赌注。

Lucifer had nothing left to wager but his devils, and with his magic cards Hansel won them one by one.
路西法除了一群小鬼再无别的可押，汉赛尔凭那副纸牌，把他们一个个全赢了过来。

seizeB2

/siːz/v.

To grab something suddenly and firmly.

一把抓住；擒住。

So they seized Hansel and flung him out of the gate, and his soul burst into a thousand pieces.
他们一把抓住汉赛尔，把他扔出大门，他的魂魄摔成万千碎片。

greedB1

/ɡriːd/n.

A strong wish to have more than you need.

贪心；贪婪。

Whoever lets greed and gambling rule his heart will lose everything in the end — even a place to call home.
一个人若被赌瘾迷了心窍，纵有通天的运气，到头来也落得无处容身。

Reading Together & Learning More

The Moral

A greedy heart is never satisfied, no matter how much it wins. When gambling rules a person's heart, even the greatest luck only feeds the craving, and in the end he is left with nowhere to belong.

Educational Value

Children can learn from this fable that a desire left unchecked can take control of a person and drag him deeper and deeper. It also opens a gentle talk about self-control, wise choices, and being content with what one has.

Tips for Parents

Before you start, tell your child this is not a story about how to gamble — it is an exaggerated mirror that shows how greed can ruin a life. Pause at the ending and ask: Hansel won half the world, so why was he left with nothing? After reading, you can look together for small everyday habits that grow and grow until they take over.

Talk About It

God expects Hansel to ask for Heaven, but he only asks for winning cards and dice. What does that choice tell us about what he cares about most?
Hansel wins half the world and even traps Death in a tree. So why does he end up with no place that will take him in?
If Hansel had stopped to think before making his wishes, what else could he have asked for to make his life better?
Death stays stuck in the tree for seven years, and nobody on earth dies. That sounds good at first — but what would the world be like if everyone lived forever?
The story ends by saying Hansel's shattered soul became the gamblers of today. Why do you think the storyteller made up this "origin" for gamblers?

Gambling Hansel

Introduction

Vocabulary from "Gambling Hansel"

Reading Together & Learning More

The Moral

Educational Value

Tips for Parents

Talk About It

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