Godfather Death

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

  • Age8–12
  • Reading time10 min
  • LevelAdvanced

Introduction

Not every tale by the Brothers Grimm ends "happily ever after." "Godfather Death" is one of their heaviest stories, and we have retold it in the style of a Chinese fable because its heart is universal. Chinese folk wisdom has a saying for this kind of tale: the cleverer you are, the easier it is to trip over your own cleverness. There is another old proverb about greed — the more you want, the more you lose. The physician in this story is exactly such a person: skilled and gifted, able to read life and death at a glance, yet desire pulls him step by step toward his own ruin. In the Grimms' original, the same doctor saves two people. The first time he acts out of pity; the second time he acts out of longing for beauty and a crown. Same hands, different hearts, and very different endings. This is what a fable does best: it uses the simplest plot to carry the deepest lesson. Parents may find the ending sad, but that sadness is the point — a fable leaves a lesson behind, not a fairy-tale comfort. As you read together, ask your child what rules the godfather set, and why the physician broke them. The life-lights make a gentle way to talk about time: once a candle goes out, no one can light it again. The story suits children aged eight and up, and it can open a calm, honest conversation about life and its limits.

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Godfather Death - A poor farmer looks for a godfather, refuses God and the Devil, and chooses Death, who treats everyone alike. - Scene Illustration 1
A poor farmer looks for a godfather, refuses God and the Devil, and chooses Death, who treats everyone alike.
Long ago, a poor farmer had twelve children. He worked day and night, yet his family often went hungry. When his thirteenth child was born, he did not know what to do. So he went out to the big road and made a plan: the first person he met would be the godfather.
The first person he met was the kind Lord God. "Poor man," said God, "I will hold your child at the font and give him a happy life." The farmer asked, "Who are you?" "I am God." The farmer shook his head. "You give riches to the rich and let the poor go hungry. I do not want you." Then he turned and walked away.
Next, the Devil came up to him. "Let me be the godfather," he said. "I will give your son piles of gold and every joy in the world." The farmer asked, "Who are you?" "I am the Devil." The farmer shook his head again. "You trick people and lead them into trouble. I do not want you either."
The farmer walked on until he met a thin, bony man. "Let me be your child's godfather," said the man. The farmer asked, "Who are you?" "I am Death," he said. "I treat everyone the same. I take the rich and the poor alike, and I never play favorites." The farmer nodded. "Then you are the right one. Please be my child's godfather."
"Your child shall be rich and famous," said Death. "No one who has me as a friend ever comes to nothing." The christening was set for the next Sunday. Death came on time, quiet and proper, and stood as godfather.
Godfather Death - The godfather gives the boy a magic herb, sets two firm rules about life and death, and makes him a famous physician. - Scene Illustration 2
The godfather gives the boy a magic herb, sets two firm rules about life and death, and makes him a famous physician.
When the boy grew up, his godfather came to him one day. He led him deep into the woods and pointed at a green herb. "This is my gift to you," he said. "You will become a famous physician, known far and wide."
"When you visit a sick person, I will be there. If I stand at the patient's head, you may say with confidence that you can cure him. Give him a little of this herb, and he will get well. But if I stand at the patient's feet, his time has come. You must tell the truth: no doctor on earth can save him."
"Remember this: never use the herb against my will, or you will suffer for it."
Soon the young man became the most famous physician in the land. One look at a patient told him whether the case could be saved. People came from far and near and paid him well, and before long he was rich.
Godfather Death - The king falls ill, the physician cheats Death for the first time to save him — and receives a stern warning. - Scene Illustration 3
The king falls ill, the physician cheats Death for the first time to save him — and receives a stern warning.
Later, the king fell very ill. People sent for the physician and asked if there was any hope. When he reached the bedside, he saw Death standing at the patient's feet. That meant no herb on earth could help.
"What if I cheat Death just this once?" the physician thought. "He will be angry, but I am his godson. He may close one eye." So he lifted the king, turned him around, and made Death stand at his head. Then he gave the king a little of the herb, and the king slowly got well.
Death came with a dark, angry face and raised one finger. "You have betrayed me," he said. "I will forgive you this time, because you are my godson. If you ever do it again, I will take your life with my own hands."
Godfather Death - The princess is dying, and blinded by beauty and the crown, the physician breaks the rule a second time. - Scene Illustration 4
The princess is dying, and blinded by beauty and the crown, the physician breaks the rule a second time.
Not long after, the princess fell gravely ill. She was the king's only child, and he wept day and night until his eyes grew weak. He sent out a promise: whoever saved the princess could marry her and rule the kingdom one day.
When the physician reached the princess's bed, he saw Death standing at her feet. He should have remembered the warning. But her great beauty and the thought of the crown had stolen his heart.
He did not even see Death glaring at him, shaking a thin, bony fist in the air. He lifted the princess, laid her head where her feet had been, and gave her a little of the herb. Colour came back to her cheeks at once.
The princess was saved. The physician dreamed only of riches and honour, never knowing that disaster was already on its way.
Godfather Death - In an underground cavern full of life-lights, Death shows the physician his own candle — and lets it go out. - Scene Illustration 5
In an underground cavern full of life-lights, Death shows the physician his own candle — and lets it go out.
Death saw that his prize had been taken from him a second time. He strode up to the physician and said coldly, "You are finished. Now it is your turn."
He gripped the physician with his icy hand, so tightly that the man could not move. He dragged him down into an underground cavern. There, thousands of candles stood in endless rows — tall ones, short ones, thick ones and thin ones.
"These are the life-lights of all people," said Death. "The tall ones belong to children, the middle ones to grown-ups in their best years, and the short ones to the old. But some children have only a tiny stump of a candle too."
"Show me my own life-light," said the physician. He was sure his candle must still be tall. Death pointed at a small stump that was about to go out. "There it is," he said.
The physician begged in fear, "Dear godfather, please light a new candle for me. I will do good in life. I want to be king and marry the beautiful princess." Death said, "The old one must go out before a new one can be lit." The physician begged again, "Then put the old one on top of the new one. When the old one burns up, the new one will keep burning."
Death pretended to agree and picked up a tall new candle. But he wanted his revenge. As he set the old stump in place, he let his hand slip on purpose. The stump fell over and went out. The physician dropped to the ground, and from that day he belonged to Death. The lesson is clear: when greed takes hold of the heart, people forget the rules. When the rules are broken, even the tallest life-light will go out.

Vocabulary from "Godfather Death"

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

fontC1
/fɒnt/n.

The basin in a church that holds water for a christening.

洗礼盆；教堂里举行洗礼时盛水用的盆。

"Poor man," said God, "I will hold your child at the font and give him a happy life."

“可怜的人，我愿抱着你的孩子受洗，让他一生平安快活。”

richesB2
/ˈrɪtʃɪz/n.

Valuable things; great wealth.

财富；珍宝。

"You give riches to the rich and let the poor go hungry. I do not want you."

“你让富人享福，却叫穷人挨饿，我不要你做教父。”

herbB2
/hɜːb/n.

A plant used as medicine or to add flavour to food.

草药；香草。

Give him a little of this herb, and he will get well.

喂他一小口这草，自会痊愈。

physicianB2
/fɪˈzɪʃn/n.

A doctor who treats illness with medicine.

医生；内科大夫。

Soon the young man became the most famous physician in the land.

没过多久，年轻人果然成了天下闻名的神医。

confidenceB2
/ˈkɒnfɪdəns/n.

The feeling that you are sure about something.

把握；信心。

If I stand at the patient's head, you may say with confidence that you can cure him.

若我站在病人头边，你尽可大胆说能医好他。

cheatB1
/tʃiːt/v.

To trick someone or act in a dishonest way to get what you want.

欺骗；蒙骗。

"What if I cheat Death just this once?" the physician thought.

“我若骗过死神这一回，他虽会生气，可我是他的教子，他多半会睁一只眼闭一只眼。”

betrayed(betray)B2
/bɪˈtreɪd/v.

Broke the trust of someone who believed in you.

背叛；辜负了信任。

"You have betrayed me," he said.

“你背叛了我。”

gravely(grave)B2
/ˈɡreɪvli/adv.

In a very serious or dangerous way.

严重地；危重地。

Not long after, the princess fell gravely ill.

没过多久，公主又病重了。

stumpB2
/stʌmp/n.

The short piece that is left when most of a candle has burned away.

残根；（蜡烛的）残头。

Death pointed at a small stump that was about to go out.

死神指着一小截将灭的残烛。

revengeB2
/rɪˈvendʒ/n.

Harming someone in return for a wrong they did to you.

报复；复仇。

But he wanted his revenge.

可他心中只想着报复。

greedB2
/ɡriːd/n.

A strong, selfish wish to have more than you need.

贪心；贪婪。

The lesson is clear: when greed takes hold of the heart, people forget the rules.

这故事告诉我们：人心一贪，就会忘了该守的规矩。

glaring(glare)C1
/ˈɡleərɪŋ/v.

Looking at someone with anger and an intense stare.

怒目而视；瞪视。

He did not even see Death glaring at him, shaking a thin, bony fist in the air.

他竟没看见死神正瞪着他，把一只枯瘦的拳头举在半空。

Reading Together & Learning More

The Moral

Rules must be kept, and greed must be checked. No matter how clever you are, you cannot cheat life and death.

Educational Value

Helps children understand why rules matter and how temptation works, using the life-light image to gently open thinking about life's limits and fairness.

Tips for Parents

This tale ends in a heavy way, so it suits children aged eight and up. Do not rush to talk about death. First ask your child what the physician did wrong, then use the life-light image to talk about time, keeping promises, and careful choices.

Talk About It

  1. The farmer turned down God and the Devil, then chose Death. Do you think Death is really the "fairest" of the three? Why?
  2. The physician saved the king out of pity, but saved the princess to win the crown. The herb was the same — what was different about the two rescues?
  3. Death had warned him once. Why did the physician still break the rule? What would you have done in his place?
  4. The story compares every life to a candle. If a candle cannot be relit once it goes out, how would you spend your day?
  5. Does a tall, bright life-light always mean a happy life? What do you think?

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