The Goose Girl

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

  • Age6–10
  • Reading time11 min
  • LevelIntermediate

Introduction

The Goose Girl is not the most famous tale in the Brothers Grimm's collection, but it may be the sharpest one. There is no fairy godmother and no glass slipper here. There is only a robbed princess, a talking horse, and three drops of blood that hold her power. We have retold this story in the style of a Chinese fable, because the tale already has a fable's bones: every scene carries one point, and the moral rises by itself, the way an old village saying rises to the lips. The false bride schemes and plots, and in the end she pronounces her own terrible punishment at the dinner table. That is not a coincidence; it is poetic justice, the same justice Chinese proverbs praise: he who digs a pit for others falls into it himself. It is worth knowing that the Grimms were not gentle with the ending. In their earliest written version, the punishment is as cruel as the crime, and only later retellings softened it. We keep the old ending, but we suggest parents stop at the moment the wicked one is punished. As you read, watch the two speaking things in the story: the three drops of blood and the head of Falada. Both are voices of the truth. When the blood is lost, the princess falls silent; when the head is nailed to the gateway, the truth keeps speaking. Ask your child: who finally speaks the words that this girl dared not say? That question, about who gives voice to the voiceless, is the heart of the fable, and it is a question children will carry with them long after the story ends.

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The Goose Girl - A queen sends her daughter to marry a prince far away and gives her three drops of blood as a charm, but on the road a proud waiting-woman grows bold, seizes the horse and the fine clothes, and forces the princess to swear a dreadful oath. - Scene Illustration 1
A queen sends her daughter to marry a prince far away and gives her three drops of blood as a charm, but on the road a proud waiting-woman grows bold, seizes the horse and the fine clothes, and forces the princess to swear a dreadful oath.
Long ago there lived an old queen whose husband had died many years before. She had one daughter, a beauty like a fresh flower, promised in marriage to the son of a king far away. As the wedding day drew near, the queen gathered everything a royal bride should have: fine furniture, cups, jewels, and ornaments of gold and silver. A waiting-woman was chosen to travel with her, and each of the two women had a horse. The princess's horse was named Falada, and Falada could speak.
On the day of parting, the queen led her daughter into a quiet room. She cut her own finger with a little knife and let three drops of blood fall onto a white napkin. "Keep this napkin close to your heart," she said. "You will need it on the road." The princess tucked it away, mounted her horse, and set out for her bridegroom's kingdom.
After riding for an hour, the princess grew very thirsty. "Get down and fill my golden cup from the brook," she said to the waiting-woman. But the waiting-woman frowned. "If you are thirsty, drink for yourself. I am not your servant!" The princess could not argue. She climbed down, bent over the water, and drank. Then the three drops of blood spoke: "If your mother knew this, her heart would break." The princess said nothing and climbed back onto her horse.
The sun beat down, and before long the princess was thirsty again. She begged the waiting-woman a second time, but the answer was harsher still. "Get your own drink. Do not order me about," the woman snapped. So the princess climbed down once more and bent over the stream, weeping as she said, "Oh, what a bitter day!" And the three drops of blood sighed again: "If your mother knew this, her heart would break."
But this time, as she bent to drink, the napkin slipped from her dress and floated away down the stream. Her heart was so heavy that she never noticed. The waiting-woman saw it, and rejoiced. Now that the three drops of blood were gone, the princess was weak and could no longer protect herself.
Sure enough, when the princess tried to mount again, the waiting-woman shouted, "Falada is mine, and this thin old horse is yours!" The princess dared not refuse. Then the waiting-woman forced her to take off her silk dress and put on plain clothes, and made her swear a fearful oath. At the royal court she must never speak a word of what had happened, on pain of death. Falada saw it all, and remembered every bit of it.
The Goose Girl - At the castle the false bride is welcomed as the true princess, while the real princess is sent to mind geese with a goose-boy; afraid the horse will talk, the false bride has Falada put to death. - Scene Illustration 2
At the castle the false bride is welcomed as the true princess, while the real princess is sent to mind geese with a goose-boy; afraid the horse will talk, the false bride has Falada put to death.
So the waiting-woman set out on Falada, while the princess sat on the thin old horse, and at last the two of them came to the royal castle. Everyone in the court was overjoyed at their coming. The prince hurried out, took the waiting-woman by the hand, and led her upstairs, for he believed she was his bride, while the true princess had to stay below in the yard.
From his window the old king saw the girl standing in the yard. She looked gentle and lovely, so he went down and asked the false bride, "Who is that young woman standing out there?" The false bride answered lightly, "Oh, just a companion I brought along. Give her some work, so she does not stand idle all day." The old king had no work for her at first. Then he remembered a goose-boy in his service named Conrad, who needed a helper. So the true princess was sent to tend the geese with him.
Some days later, the false bride said to the prince, "Dear husband, grant me one favour." The prince agreed at once. "Then have my horse put to death," she said. "It gave me endless trouble on the journey." She was afraid inside, for she feared that Falada might open its mouth and tell how she had treated the princess.
Word spread that Falada was to die, and the news reached the princess's ears. Secretly she went to the man whose work was to kill horses, and offered him a piece of gold. In the town stood a great dark gateway, and every morning and evening she had to drive her geese through it. She begged him to nail Falada's head beneath that arch, so that she could see it whenever she went by. The man said yes, and the horse's head was set up under the dark gateway.
The Goose Girl - Every morning the goose girl speaks with Falada's head under the arch; in the meadow she calls the wind to carry off Conrad's hat, so he cannot steal a single strand of her golden hair. - Scene Illustration 3
Every morning the goose girl speaks with Falada's head under the arch; in the meadow she calls the wind to carry off Conrad's hat, so he cannot steal a single strand of her golden hair.
Early the next morning, as the princess and Conrad drove their geese through the gateway, she called out, "Falada, Falada, you are hanging there still." The head answered, "My princess, how low you have fallen! If your mother knew your suffering, her heart would break in two."
Outside the town they drove the geese into the meadow. The princess sat down and let down her golden hair, and it shone in the sunlight. Conrad's eyes grew greedy, and he reached out to pull some strands for himself. The princess had a clever idea. She called, "Blow, little wind, take Conrad's hat away, Make him run and chase it all day, While I comb my golden hair, And pin it up with gentle care."
A wind rose at once and carried Conrad's hat far across the field. Conrad had to run after it, and when he came back, breathless, the princess had already combed and pinned up her hair. He could not pull out a single strand. He sulked and would not speak to her all day, and the two of them watched the geese until evening.
Early the next morning, as they passed under the dark arch again, the princess called out, "Falada, Falada, you are hanging there still." And Falada answered, "My princess, how low you have fallen! If your mother knew your suffering, her heart would break in two."
In the meadow the princess sat down and combed her hair again. Conrad crept up to snatch a handful, and she called once more. "Blow, little wind, take Conrad's hat away, Make him run and chase it all day, While I comb my golden hair, And pin it up with gentle care." The wind took his hat again, and by the time Conrad came back, her hair was already pinned up. So they watched the geese until evening, as before.
The Goose Girl - Conrad complains to the old king that the girl plagues him all day; the next day the king hides behind the arch and in the bushes, and sees with his own eyes the girl's talk with the horse's head and her command of the wind. - Scene Illustration 4
Conrad complains to the old king that the girl plagues him all day; the next day the king hides behind the arch and in the bushes, and sees with his own eyes the girl's talk with the horse's head and her command of the wind.
When they reached home, Conrad went straight to the old king. "I will not mind the geese with that girl any more!" The old king asked why. "She plays tricks on me all day long," said Conrad, and the king told him to explain everything.
"Every morning," said Conrad, "we drive the geese under that dark gateway. An old horse's head is nailed to the wall there, and she calls out to it, 'Falada, Falada, you are hanging there still.' And the head answers her, 'My princess, how low you have fallen! If your mother knew your suffering, her heart would break in two.'"
"And there is the matter of the meadow," said Conrad. "She only has to call out, and the wind snatches my hat and sends me chasing it across the field." The old king ordered him to lead the geese out again the next morning, as always. But the king himself slipped behind the gateway and heard the girl speak to the horse's head with his own ears. Then he followed them into the field, hid behind a bush, and watched everything.
The king saw the girl sit down and let down her golden hair, shining in the sun. He heard her call, "Blow, little wind, take Conrad's hat away, Make him run and chase it all day, While I comb my golden hair, And pin it up with gentle care." A wind rose and carried Conrad's hat away, while the girl calmly combed her hair and pinned it up.
The old king slipped away without a sound. When the girl returned that evening, the old king summoned her and asked the reason for all her strange deeds. With tears in her eyes she answered, "I dare not tell anyone. Long ago, when my life hung by a thread, I swore a solemn oath never to breathe a word." The old king pressed her again and again, but she would not open her mouth.
The Goose Girl - The king coaxes the girl to pour out her secret to an iron stove, the truth comes out and the princess is restored to royal robes, while at the feast the false bride sentences herself. - Scene Illustration 5
The king coaxes the girl to pour out her secret to an iron stove, the truth comes out and the princess is restored to royal robes, while at the feast the false bride sentences herself.
At last the old king said, "If you refuse to tell me, speak your secret to the iron stove instead." With that, he left the room. The girl crept into the stove and wept out her whole heart. "Here I sit, forsaken and forgotten by the whole world, and yet I am a royal princess at heart! A cruel waiting-woman stole my fine gown, my horse, and my place beside the prince. Now I watch geese and do a servant's work. If my dear mother knew all this, her heart would break!"
But the old king had not gone far. He stood outside the stove door and heard every word. He called the girl out and had royal clothes put on her, and in them she was a marvel of beauty. Then he called his son and revealed his error. The woman he had wed was only a servant in disguise. The true bride stood right there — the girl who had been minding the geese.
The prince's heart leaped when he saw how beautiful and gentle she was. A grand feast was laid out, and the whole court came to share in the joy. The bridegroom sat at the head of the table, with the princess on one side and the waiting-woman on the other. The false bride was so dazzled by the fine clothes that she never knew the true princess was sitting beside her.
After the guests had feasted and drunk their fill, the old king turned to the waiting-woman with a question. "If a person deceives her masters and steals another's place, what does she deserve?" He told the whole story from beginning to end, and finished with, "Now, what sentence does such a person deserve?" The false bride answered without a second thought: "Nothing better than this — shut her in a barrel stuck full of sharp nails, and drag her through the streets with two white horses!"
"You have just spoken your own punishment," said the old king. "What you ordered will be done to you." And so it was done. From that day on, the prince wed the true bride, and the two of them ruled the land in peace and joy. The old people have told this story to their children, and their children to theirs, even down to this very day. The old saying holds true: fire cannot be hidden in paper, and no evil deed stays hidden for long. Those who harm others often end up harming themselves.

Vocabulary from "The Goose Girl"

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

ornaments(ornament)B2
/ˈɔːnəmənts/n.

Small pretty things used to decorate something, such as jewellery.

装饰品；首饰摆件（用来装点、打扮的东西）。

As the wedding day drew near, the queen gathered everything a royal bride should have: fine furniture, cups, jewels, and ornaments of gold and silver.

眼看婚期临近，老王后把嫁妆备得齐齐整整——家具、杯盏、珠宝、金银首饰，样样都是王家公主该有的排场。

frowned(frown)B1
/fraʊnd/v.

Brought your eyebrows together to show anger or displeasure.

皱眉；沉下脸（表示不高兴、不满）。

But the waiting-woman frowned.

谁知侍女把脸一沉。

harsher(harsh)B2
/ˈhɑːʃə/adj.

Crueller or more unkind than before.

更严厉的；更不客气的。

She begged the waiting-woman a second time, but the answer was harsher still.

她再次央求侍女，侍女却比先前更凶。

slipped(slip)B2
/slɪpt/v.

Moved quietly or fell out by accident, without being noticed.

滑落；悄悄滑出（不知不觉间掉下来）。

But this time, as she bent to drink, the napkin slipped from her dress and floated away down the stream.

可这一回，公主俯身喝水时，贴身的手帕竟滑出衣襟，顺水漂走了。

rejoiced(rejoice)C1
/rɪˈdʒɔɪst/v.

Felt or showed great happiness about something.

欢喜；暗自高兴。

The waiting-woman saw it, and rejoiced.

侍女在一旁看得真切，心里暗暗欢喜。

fearfulB2
/ˈfɪəfl/adj.

Very serious and frightening; full of fear.

可怕的；令人畏惧的。

Then the waiting-woman forced her to take off her silk dress and put on plain clothes, and made her swear a fearful oath.

侍女又逼她脱下锦缎衣裳，换上粗布衣衫，还逼她立下毒誓。

overjoyedB2
/ˌəʊvəˈdʒɔɪd/adj.

Extremely happy and excited about something.

喜出望外；高兴极了。

Everyone in the court was overjoyed at their coming.

宫里人人欢喜，只当新娘到了。

greedyB2
/ˈɡriːdi/adj.

Wanting more of something than you need or deserve.

贪婪的；眼馋的。

Conrad's eyes grew greedy, and he reached out to pull some strands for himself.

康拉德看得眼馋，伸手就要拔几根。

sulked(sulk)C1
/sʌlkt/v.

Stayed silent and bad-tempered because you were annoyed.

生闷气；赌气不理人。

He sulked and would not speak to her all day, and the two of them watched the geese until evening.

康拉德憋了一肚子气，一整天不理她。两人守着鹅群，直看到太阳落山。

crept(creep)B2
/krept/v.

Moved slowly and quietly, so nobody would notice.

蹑手蹑脚地走；悄悄靠近。

Conrad crept up to snatch a handful, and she called once more.

康拉德凑上前想抓一把，公主又唤道。

forsaken(forsake)C1
/fəˈseɪkən/adj.

Abandoned and left all alone, with no one to help you.

被遗弃的；被孤零零抛下的。

Here I sit, forsaken and forgotten by the whole world, and yet I am a royal princess at heart!

如今我孤零零坐在这里，天下无人记得我，可我本是王宫里长大的公主！

dazzled(dazzle)B2
/ˈdæzld/v.

Blinded or amazed by a very bright or splendid light.

晃花眼；被光彩照得眼花缭乱。

The false bride was so dazzled by the fine clothes that she never knew the true princess was sitting beside her.

假新娘被那身华服晃花了眼，竟认不出眼前这位就是真公主。

Reading Together & Learning More

The Moral

No fire stays hidden in paper, and no evil deed stays hidden for long. Those who harm others end up harming themselves, and the truth, however long it is buried, will always come to light.

Educational Value

Children learn that lies and bullying cannot last, and that truth and kindness win in the end; they also learn to turn to a trusted adult for help when they are wronged or threatened, instead of bearing it all alone.

Tips for Parents

Ask your child what the princess lost on the road, and why she grew weak from that moment. Talk about whether a promise made under threat must be kept, and teach your child to ask a trusted adult for help when in danger. Note: the punishment at the end is harsh — you may stop at the moment the wicked one is punished.

Talk About It

  1. Falada's head is nailed under the gateway, yet it keeps telling the truth. Why do you think the truth is so hard to hide completely?
  2. The princess was threatened with death into swearing she would never tell. Must a promise made in fear, under threat, still be kept?
  3. At the feast, the false bride pronounced her own punishment. Why do wrongdoers so often give themselves away?
  4. The princess suffered a great wrong but dared not speak. If you were her friend, what would you do to help the truth come out?
  5. The princess lost the three drops of blood that protected her, and from then on she grew weak. What makes a person strong or weak — outside help, or the courage inside?

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