Rumpelstiltskin
Introduction
Rumpelstiltskin is really a story about the power of names. In old traditions all over the world, to know a spirit's or goblin's true name is to hold the key to its power — a belief far older than the tale itself. In 2016, two researchers used the methods of tracing language evolution to follow this 'guess the helper's name' story type (known as ATU 500) back some four thousand years to Indo-European roots, making it perhaps one of the oldest fairy tales we know. The name 'Rumpelstiltskin' itself comes from German and means something like a 'little rattling goblin.' Curiously, in the Grimms' first edition of 1812 the little man simply flew out of the window on a cooking spoon; only in the final 1857 edition does he tear himself in two. As you read, ask your child who the real villain is here — the little man, or the greedy king who keeps demanding more gold?
Vocabulary from "Rumpelstiltskin"
12 key words from this story with definitions and original context sentences for language learners.
A person who owns or works in a mill that grinds grain into flour.
磨坊主；磨面工。
There was once a miller who was poor, but he had one beautiful daughter.
从前有个磨坊主，虽然很穷，但他有一个美丽的女儿。
A thin rounded rod used to twist and wind thread when spinning.
纺锤；线轴杆。
He led her into a room that was quite full of straw, and gave her a wheel and spindle.
国王把她领进一间堆满稻草的屋子，给了她一架纺车和一个纺锤。
A feeling of great worry, suffering, or unhappiness.
苦恼；忧虑；痛苦。
She had no notion how to set to work to spin gold from straw, and her distress grew so great that she began to weep.
她根本不知道该怎么把稻草纺成金子，苦恼越来越深，最后忍不住哭了起来。
An idea or understanding of something.
概念；想法；（对某事的）了解。
She had no notion how to set to work to spin gold from straw.
她根本不知道该从何下手把稻草纺成金子。
A small reel that holds thread in spinning or sewing.
线轴；纡管（绕线用）。
Whirr, whirr, whirr! three times round and the bobbin was full.
嗖、嗖、嗖！转了三圈，线轴就满了。
Very surprised.
惊讶的；惊愕的。
At sunrise came the king, and when he saw the gold he was astonished and very much rejoiced.
日出时分，国王来了，看到金子他既惊讶又高兴。
Extremely greedy for money or wealth.
贪婪的；贪财的。
When he saw the gold he was astonished and very much rejoiced, for he was very avaricious.
看到金子他既惊讶又高兴，因为他十分贪婪。
To express deep sorrow or grief.
哀叹；悲痛；哭诉。
Then the queen began to lament and to weep, so that the little man had pity upon her.
王后听了开始痛哭哀叹，小矮人起了恻隐之心。
A person who carries a message or is sent to find something out.
信使；送信人。
She sent a messenger through the land to ask far and wide for all the names that could be found.
她派了一位信使到全国各地去打探任何能找到的名字。
Very strange, unusual, or remarkable.
奇特的；异乎寻常的。
The queen told the little man all the most unusual and singular names.
王后把所有最稀奇古怪的名字都说给小矮人听。
Funny in a way that makes you laugh.
滑稽的；好笑的。
Round the fire danced a comical little man, and he hopped on one leg.
一个滑稽的小矮人围着火堆单腿乱跳。
Very strong, wild anger.
狂怒；暴怒。
He seized his left foot with both his hands in such a fury that he split in two.
他狂怒地用双手抓住左脚，把自己撕成了两半。
Reading Together & Learning More
The Moral
Careless boasting and greed both bring trouble; in hard times, it is calm and cleverness that find a way out.
Educational Value
Leads children to think about the consequences of boasting and greed, and to value observation and persistence through the name-guessing puzzle.
Tips for Parents
Turn the name-guessing into a game with your child; then talk about who they would turn to for help if they were forced to do something impossible.
Talk About It
- The miller lied and boasted that his daughter could spin straw into gold. What trouble did his big talk bring upon her?
- The king forced the girl to spin gold again and again and threatened to kill her. Who do you think is worse — the king or the little man?
- With no way out, the girl promised to give away her future child. Should a promise made out of fear still count?
- The story says that knowing someone's name can defeat them. Why do you think a name can hold such power?
