The King's Son Who Feared Nothing
Introduction
Turning this Brothers Grimm tale into a fable meant folding a knight's adventure into a single old saying: bear what others cannot bear, and you will gain what others cannot gain. Every marvel on the prince's road, from the giant's toys to the golden apple and the magic ring, becomes a footnote to that lesson, and the whole weight of the tale falls on three nights of silence. This rings true to the Chinese storytelling tradition, where patience is a kind of strength: the old man who moves mountains and the iron rod ground into a needle both win by holding on. And the giant, whose tricks all turn back on him, fits the proverb that harm done to others comes home to the doer. The original tale, Grimm no. 121, kept some very dark touches, such as the blinding, the maiden who slowly turns from black to white, and the night-long torments, which later editions softened, yet the ancient motif of breaking a spell through silent endurance never changed. As you read with your child, point out the lion that never makes a sound: true loyalty does not shout. And notice how the tale keeps its scenery in Europe, in castles and forests, while the lesson it teaches belongs to every land and every age.
Vocabulary from "The King's Son Who Feared Nothing"
12 key words from this story with definitions and original context sentences for language learners.
Shouted very loudly and deeply, like an angry giant.
吼叫；大声喊叫。
"You little worm!" he roared.
「你这小虫，谁给你的胆子动我的玩物？」
A fence made of metal bars.
铁栏杆；栅栏。
The garden is fenced with iron railings, and wild beasts lie before them, keeping watch day and night.
那园子围着铁栅栏，栅栏前趴着一排野兽，日夜看守。
Fought by holding and throwing an opponent.
扭打；摔跤。
They wrestled for a long time, but the giant could not win.
两人扭打多时，巨人竟占不了半分上风。
Took something away quickly and roughly.
一把夺走；抢走。
It ran after the giant, snatched the ring from his hand, and carried it back to its master.
它飞身追上巨人，把戒指从他手中夺了回来，衔回主人身边。
Very, very angry.
狂怒的；气急败坏的。
The giant was furious.
巨人恼恨不过，躲到橡树背后，趁王子穿衣之际猛扑出来，生生弄瞎了他的双眼。
In a quiet, obedient way, without pride.
谦卑地；驯顺地。
It sprang up and followed him, not to attack but humbly at his heels, as if it had found its master.
不是扑咬，而是驯顺地跟在他脚边，仿佛认了他做主人。
A magic power that changes or controls a person or a place.
咒语；魔法。
After some days, he came to a castle under a spell.
走了些日子，他来到一座着了魔法的城堡。
To play a game in which you can win or lose money or things.
赌博；赌钱。
They lit a fire and began to gamble.
小鬼们从四面八方涌出来，生火赌钱，闹作一团。
Disappeared suddenly and completely.
消失；不见了。
At last the devils vanished.
小鬼们终于散去。
Held up or put up with something hard.
忍受；承受。
But the prince bore it all and never cried out.
王子把牙咬得咯咯响，样样都忍住了，一声也没喊。
Hurt places on the body, such as cuts or bruises.
伤口；伤处。
The girl came in with a little bottle of the water of life and washed his wounds.
姑娘捧着一小瓶生命之水来了，为他擦洗伤口，疼痛立消。
Being true and faithful to someone and never leaving them.
忠诚；忠心。
The prince won not by strength, but by patience and faith, and by the loyalty of a lion that never left his side.
王子靠的不是蛮力——是忍耐，是信念，还有那头忠心的狮子。
Reading Together & Learning More
The Moral
True courage is not feeling no fear at all. It is bearing the worst in silence and holding on to the end. Cunning can beat brute strength, but patience, faith and loyalty cannot be beaten.
Educational Value
Helps children understand the power of endurance: holding on in silence through hard times can beat brute force, and the lion that risks its life for its master is a fine example of loyalty and gratitude.
Tips for Parents
Heads-up: the blinding and the three nights of torment may frighten younger children, so read together and explain that it is only a fable. Afterwards ask: did the prince survive by feeling no fear, or by bearing his fear without a cry? Why did the lion risk its life again and again? Compare the scheming giant, who fell into his own trap, with the patient prince.
Talk About It
- The prince says he fears nothing. Which counts more as true courage in your eyes: feeling no fear at all, or feeling afraid yet keeping silent through it all?
- Unable to beat the ring-strong prince, the giant tricks the ring away with a 'let's bathe in the river' plan. Why are honest, unsuspecting people easy to fool? Is it all the prince's fault for being too trusting?
- The lion, once tamed, risks its life again and again: it snatches back the ring, drags its blind master from the cliff, and shoves the giant over the edge. What makes it try so hard?
- After the prince is blinded, he learns what to do by watching a bird wash its eyes in the brook. What do you think this part of the story is trying to tell us?
- If you had to spend three nights in the castle and never make a sound while the devils tormented you, which moment would be the hardest for you? How would you hold on?
