The Three Little Birds
Introduction
Short as this Grimm tale looks, behind it stands one of the most widely told stories in the entire world, catalogued by folklorists as ATU 707. You may have met a more splendid version in the Arabian Nights — "The Tale of the Speaking Bird, the Singing Tree, and the Golden Water": envious sisters swap a queen's babies for little animals, the children are raised elsewhere, and when grown they quest for a magical talking bird that finally reveals the truth. From the same skeleton grew Pushkin's long poem "The Tale of Tsar Saltan" and Rimsky-Korsakov's opera (the famous "Flight of the Bumblebee" comes from it). What makes the Grimm version special is how thoroughly "local" it is: it happens on the real Keuterberg hill, the babies are thrown into the real river Weser, and even the rhymes carry the flavour of a folk ditty. The detail most worth noticing with your child is this: both brothers fail in the quest, and only the youngest sister succeeds — not through strength, but because she offers a kind blessing to the old woman fishing. In the Grimms' world, being polite and kind-hearted is very often the real magic key.
Vocabulary from "The Three Little Birds"
12 key words from this story with definitions and original context sentences for language learners.
Men who hunt, especially those who manage a hunt.
猎人；（尤指）负责狩猎的随从。
Once on a time when he was riding forth from his castle with his huntsmen, three girls were watching their cows.
有一次，当他和猎手们骑马从城堡出来时，三个姑娘正在山上放牛。
The act of hunting; a hunt.
狩猎；追猎（此处指打猎）。
When he had come back from the chase, he caused the three girls to be brought to him.
当他打猎回来后，让人把那三个姑娘带到他面前。
A plant whose pale, silky fibres are spun into linen; used here to describe fair, pale-golden hair.
亚麻（其浅色纤维可织成亚麻布；此处形容浅金色头发）。
They were all three fair and beautiful of face, especially the Queen, who had hair like flax.
她们三人都长得面容姣好，尤其是王后，有着亚麻色的头发。
Brought up and cared for a child or young animal until it was grown.
抚养；养育（孩子或幼小动物）长大。
As his wife had no children, they reared him.
因为他的妻子没有孩子，他们就抚养了他。
A baby or child abandoned by its parents and found and raised by others.
弃儿；被人拾养的孩子。
The other boys would not have him with them, and said, "Go thy way, foundling."
其他男孩不愿和他在一起，说：'走你的路吧，弃儿。'
Begged or asked someone earnestly to do something.
恳求；央求。
The fisherman, however, entreated him to stay, but he would not let himself be hindered.
渔夫恳求他留下，但他不肯受阻拦。
The strip of floor or stone at the bottom of a doorway; the entrance.
门槛；门口。
You will come to a great high castle, on the threshold of which you must let the wand fall.
你会来到一座宏伟的高大城堡，你必须把魔杖扔在门槛上。
In a brave, confident way, without fear.
大胆地；勇敢地。
When you come to a great black dog, you must pass it silently and boldly.
当你遇到一只大黑狗时，必须静静地、大胆地走过去。
A thin stick used for doing magic.
魔杖；魔棒。
She carried her over the water, gave her a wand, and said to her, "Go, my daughter."
她把她背过了河，给了她一根魔杖，对她说：'去吧，我的女儿。'
Felt or showed deep sadness, especially over a loss.
哀悼；为…悲伤思念。
There was no one at home but the daughter, and she mourned for her brothers so much.
现在家里只剩下女儿了，她非常思念哥哥们。
Brought about or caused (an old past form of 'work').
（work 的古体过去式）造成；导致。
The sisters twain so false, they wrought the children woe.
那两个妹妹如此虚伪，她们给孩子们带来灾祸。
A grave or place where a dead person is buried.
坟墓；冢。
In the white lily bloom, brave boy, is thy tomb.
在那白色的百合花丛，勇敢的孩子，是你的坟墓。
Reading Together & Learning More
The Moral
Kindness and courtesy can open doors that force cannot; and however many years the truth is buried, so long as someone is brave enough to go looking, it will be spoken at last.
Educational Value
Helps children notice why the two brothers fail while the youngest sister succeeds — the difference is her one kind blessing to the old woman. The tale also teaches courage, perseverance, and faith that the truth will finally come out.
Tips for Parents
Compare the three siblings with your child: the brothers speak discouraging words to the old woman, but the sister sincerely wishes her good luck with her fishing — and only the sister receives the wand and guidance. Talk about what jealousy drove the two aunts to do, and why the King kept believing the lies. (Note: the villains are burnt at the end; you can pass over this lightly.)
Talk About It
- The two brothers speak discouraging words to the old woman fishing, while the sister sincerely wishes her a good catch. Do you think that one kind sentence is what earned the sister her help? Is politeness really that important?
- The old woman warns her to pass the big black dog 'without either laughing or looking at it.' Could you keep yourself in check like that when you were scared or curious?
- Out of jealousy, the two aunts throw the newborn babies into the river one after another. Why can jealousy drive people to do such terrible things?
- The wronged Queen is locked away for many years and can never clear her name, until the little bird sings out the truth. Why do you think it is sometimes so hard to make the truth be heard?
- Each time the King is told his wife 'gave birth to an animal,' he says 'What God does is well done,' but never checks whether it is true. What would you have done in his place?
