The Twelve Brothers

Author: Brothers Grimm

Age6–10
Reading time13 min
LevelIntermediate

Introduction

If you have read The Six Swans and The Seven Ravens on this site, you already know this story's 'family' — all belong to the 'sister rescues her bird-brothers' type (ATU 451). Fascinatingly, the Brothers Grimm collected several versions at once, and reading them side by side shows how folk tales shift and reshape: here there are twelve brothers, who become ravens when the sister accidentally plucks twelve lilies; to save them she must stay silent for seven years, neither speaking nor laughing, and later she marries a king, is slandered by a wicked mother-in-law, and is nearly burned — almost exactly as in The Six Swans. This version's opening is unusually harsh: the father plans to kill his twelve sons so the daughter alone will inherit the whole kingdom (an echo of old anxieties about passing property to a single heir), and the brothers even swear revenge on all girls. Yet it is the very sister who 'caused' their exile whose love and seven years of silence dissolve the hatred and save them. As you read, play 'spot the difference' with your child across this tale, The Six Swans, and The Seven Ravens. (Note for parents: the opening has a father plotting to kill his sons, and the ending a cruel punishment; the tale is heavy, so focus on 'love and perseverance.')

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There were once on a time a king and a queen who lived happily together and had twelve children, but they were all boys.

Then said the King to his wife, "If the thirteenth child which thou art about to bring into the world, is a girl, the twelve boys shall die, in order that her possessions may be great, and that the kingdom may fall to her alone."

He caused likewise twelve coffins to be made, which were already filled with shavings, and in each lay the little pillow for the dead, and he had them taken into a locked-up room, and then he gave the Queen the key of it, and bade her not to speak of this to any one.

The mother, however, now sat and lamented all day long, until the youngest son, who was always with her, and whom she had named Benjamin, from the Bible, said to her, "Dear mother, why art thou so sad?"

"Dearest child," she answered, "I may not tell thee."

But he let her have no rest until she went and unlocked the room, and showed him the twelve coffins ready filled with shavings. Then she said, my dearest Benjamin, thy father has had these coffins made for thee and for thy eleven brothers, for if I bring a little girl into the world, you are all to be killed and buried in them."

And as she wept while she was saying this, the son comforted her and said, "Weep not, dear mother, we will save ourselves, and go hence."

But she said, "Go forth into the forest with thy eleven brothers, and let one sit constantly on the highest tree which can be found, and keep watch, looking towards the tower here in the castle. If I give birth to a little son, I will put up a white flag, and then you may venture to come back, but if I bear a daughter, I will hoist a red flag, and then fly hence as quickly as you are able, and may the good God protect you. And every night I will rise up and pray for you -- in winter that you may be able to warm yourself at a fire, and in summer that you may not faint away in the heat."

After she had blessed her sons therefore, they went forth into the forest. They each kept watch in turn, and sat on the highest oak and looked towards the tower.

When eleven days had passed and the turn came to Benjamin, he saw that a flag was being raised. It was, however, not the white, but the blood-red flag which announced that they were all to die.

When the brothers heard that, they were very angry and said, "Are we all to suffer death for the sake of a girl? We swear that we will avenge ourselves!-- wheresoever we find a girl, her red blood shall flow."

Thereupon they went deeper into the forest, and in the midst of it, where it was the darkest, they found a little bewitched hut, which was standing empty. Then said they, "Here we will dwell, and thou Benjamin, who art the youngest and weakest, thou shalt stay at home and keep house, we others will go out and get food."

Then they went into the forest and shot hares, wild deer, birds and pigeons, and whatsoever there was to eat; this they took to Benjamin, who had to dress it for them in order that they might appease their hunger. They lived together ten years in the little hut, and the time did not appear long to them.

The little daughter which their mother the Queen had given birth to, was now grown up; she was good of heart, and fair of face, and had a golden star on her forehead.

Once, when it was the great washing, she saw twelve men's shirts among the things, and asked her mother, "To whom do these twelve shirts belong, for they are far too small for father?"

Then the Queen answered with a heavy heart, "Dear child, these belong to thy twelve brothers."

Said the maiden, "Where are my twelve brothers, I have never yet heard of them?"

She replied, "God knows where they are, they are wandering about the world."

Then she took the maiden and opened the chamber for her, and showed her the twelve coffins with the shavings, and pillows for the head.

"These coffins," said she, "were destined for thy brothers, but they went away secretly before thou wert born," and she related to her how everything had happened; then said the maiden, "Dear mother, weep not, I will go and seek my brothers."

So she took the twelve shirts and went forth, and straight into the great forest.

She walked the whole day, and in the evening she came to the bewitched hut. Then she entered it and found a young boy, who asked, "From whence comest thou, and whither art thou bound?" and was astonished that she was so beautiful, and wore royal garments, and had a star on her forehead.

And she answered, "I am a king's daughter, and am seeking my twelve brothers, and I will walk as far as the sky is blue until I find them."

She likewise showed him the twelve shirts which belonged to them.

Then Benjamin saw that she was his sister, and said, "I am Benjamin, thy youngest brother."

And she began to weep for joy, and Benjamin wept also, and they kissed and embraced each other with the greatest love.

But after this he said, "Dear sister, there is still one difficulty. We have agreed that every maiden whom we meet shall die, because we have been obliged to leave our kingdom on account of a girl."

Then said she, "I will willingly die, if by so doing I can deliver my twelve brothers."

"No," answered he, "thou shalt not die, seat thyself beneath this tub until our eleven brothers come, and then I will soon come to an agreement with them."

She did so, and when it was night the others came from hunting, and their dinner was ready.

And as they were sitting at table, and eating, they asked, "What news is there?"

Said Benjamin, "Don't you know anything?" - "No," they answered.

He continued, "You have been in the forest and I have stayed at home, and yet I know more than you do." - "Tell us then," they cried.

He answered, "But promise me that the first maiden who meets us shall not be killed." - "Yes," they all cried, "she shall have mercy, only do tell us."

Then said he, "Our sister is here," and he lifted up the tub, and the King's daughter came forth in her royal garments with the golden star on her forehead, and she was beautiful, delicate and fair.

Then they were all rejoiced, and fell on her neck, and kissed and loved her with all their hearts.

Now she stayed at home with Benjamin and helped him with the work.

The eleven went into the forest and caught game, and deer, and birds, and wood-pigeons that they might have food, and the little sister and Benjamin took care to make it ready for them.

She sought for the wood for cooking and herbs for vegetables, and put the pans on the fire so that the dinner was always ready when the eleven came.

She likewise kept order in the little house, and put beautifully white clean coverings on the little beds, and the brothers were always contented and lived in great harmony with her.

Once on a time the two at home had prepared a beautiful entertainment, and when they were all together, they sat down and ate and drank and were full of gladness.

There was, however, a little garden belonging to the bewitched house wherein stood twelve lily flowers, which are likewise called students.

She wished to give her brothers pleasure, and plucked the twelve flowers, and thought she would present each brother with one while at dinner.

But at the self-same moment that she plucked the flowers the twelve brothers were changed into twelve ravens, and flew away over the forest, and the house and garden vanished likewise.

And now the poor maiden was alone in the wild forest, and when she looked around, an old woman was standing near her who said, "My child, what hast thou done? Why didst thou not leave the twelve white flowers growing? They were thy brothers, who are now for evermore changed into ravens."

The maiden said, weeping, "Is there no way of delivering them?"

"No," said the woman, "there is but one in the whole world, and that is so hard that thou wilt not deliver them by it, for thou must be dumb for seven years, and mayst not speak or laugh, and if thou speakest one single word, and only an hour of the seven years is wanting, all is in vain, and thy brothers will be killed by the one word."

Then said the maiden in her heart, "I know with certainty that I shall set my brothers free," and went and sought a high tree and seated herself in it and span, and neither spoke nor laughed.

Now it so happened that a king was hunting in the forest, who had a great greyhound which ran to the tree on which the maiden was sitting, and sprang about it, whining, and barking at her.

Then the King came by and saw the beautiful King's daughter with the golden star on her brow, and was so charmed with her beauty that he called to ask her if she would be his wife.

She made no answer, but nodded a little with her head.

So he climbed up the tree himself, carried her down, placed her on his horse, and bore her home.

Then the wedding was solemnized with great magnificence and rejoicing, but the bride neither spoke nor smiled.

When they had lived happily together for a few years, the King's mother, who was a wicked woman, began to slander the young Queen, and said to the King, "This is a common beggar girl whom thou hast brought back with thee. Who knows what impious tricks she practises secretly! Even if she be dumb, and not able to speak, she still might laugh for once; but those who do not laugh have bad consciences."

At first the King would not believe it, but the old woman urged this so long, and accused her of so many evil things, that at last the King let himself be persuaded and sentenced her to death.

And now a great fire was lighted in the courtyard in which she was to be burnt, and the King stood above at the window and looked on with tearful eyes, because he still loved her so much.

And when she was bound fast to the stake, and the fire was licking at her clothes with its red tongue, the last instant of the seven years expired.

Then a whirring sound was heard in the air, and twelve ravens came flying towards the place, and sank downwards, and when they touched the earth they were her twelve brothers, whom she had delivered.

They tore the fire asunder, extinguished the flames, set their dear sister free, and kissed and embraced her.

And now as she dared to open her mouth and speak, she told the King why she had been dumb, and had never laughed.

The King rejoiced when he heard that she was innocent, and they all lived in great unity until their death.

The wicked step-mother was taken before the judge, and put into a barrel filled with boiling oil and venomous snakes, and died an evil death.

Vocabulary from "The Twelve Brothers"

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

coffins(coffin)B2

/ˈkɒfɪnz/n.

Boxes in which a dead body is buried.

棺材；灵柩。

He caused likewise twelve coffins to be made, which were already filled with shavings.
他甚至命人制作了十二口棺材，里面已经装满了刨花。

ventureB2

/ˈventʃə/v.

To dare to do something risky.

冒险；敢于（做某事）。

If I give birth to a little son, I will put up a white flag, and then you may venture to come back.
如果我生下一个小儿子，我会挂起一面白旗，那时你们可以冒险回来。

hoistC1

/hɔɪst/v.

To raise or lift something, especially with ropes.

升起；举起；吊起。

But if I bear a daughter, I will hoist a red flag, and then fly hence as quickly as you are able.
但如果我生下一个女儿，我会升起一面红旗，那时你们要尽最快速度逃跑。

avengeC1

/əˈvendʒ/v.

To punish or get even for a wrong that was done.

报仇；复仇；为……雪恨。

We swear that we will avenge ourselves! wheresoever we find a girl, her red blood shall flow.
我们要发誓复仇！——无论我们在哪里发现女孩，都要让她的红血流淌。

vanished(vanish)B2

/ˈvænɪʃt/v.

Disappeared suddenly and completely.

消失；突然不见。

The twelve brothers were changed into twelve ravens, and flew away over the forest, and the house and garden vanished likewise.
十二个哥哥变成了十二只乌鸦，飞过了森林，房子和花园也同样消失了。

greyhoundB2

/ˈɡreɪhaʊnd/n.

A tall, thin, very fast dog used for hunting and racing.

灵缇；灰狗（一种奔跑很快的猎犬）。

A king was hunting in the forest, who had a great greyhound which ran to the tree on which the maiden was sitting.
有一位国王在森林里打猎，他带着一只大灰狗，这狗跑到少女坐的那棵树下。

charmed(charm)B2

/tʃɑːmd/v.

Delighted or attracted greatly.

使着迷；使陶醉；迷住。

The King saw the beautiful maiden, and was so charmed with her beauty that he called to ask her if she would be his wife.
国王看到这位美丽的公主，被她的美貌迷住了，便大声问她是否愿意做他的妻子。

slanderC1

/ˈslɑːndə/v.

To say false things to damage someone's good name.

诽谤；诋毁；造谣中伤。

The King's mother, who was a wicked woman, began to slander the young Queen.
国王的母亲——一个邪恶的女人——开始诽谤年轻的王后。

persuaded(persuade)B2

/pəˈsweɪdɪd/v.

Made someone agree to something by giving reasons.

说服；劝服。

The old woman urged this so long, that at last the King let himself be persuaded and sentenced her to death.
这老妇人坚持了很久，最后国王终于被说服，判处了她死刑。

stakeB2

/steɪk/n.

A strong post; here, one that a person is tied to, to be burned.

（火刑用的）柱子；桩。

When she was bound fast to the stake, and the fire was licking at her clothes with its red tongue, the last instant of the seven years expired.
当她被紧紧绑在桩子上，火红的舌头舔舐着她的衣服时，七年的最后一瞬间结束了。

extinguished(extinguish)C1

/ɪkˈstɪŋɡwɪʃt/v.

Put out a fire or light.

熄灭；扑灭。

They tore the fire asunder, extinguished the flames, set their dear sister free, and kissed and embraced her.
他们把火堆扯开，扑灭了火焰，解救了亲爱的妹妹，并且亲吻和拥抱她。

venomousC1

/ˈvenəməs/adj.

Producing poison; able to poison with a bite or sting.

有毒的；分泌毒液的。

The wicked step-mother was put into a barrel filled with boiling oil and venomous snakes, and died an evil death.
那个邪恶的继母被装进一个装满沸油和毒蛇的桶里，死得很惨。

Reading Together & Learning More

The Moral

Love and perseverance can dissolve hatred and overcome a curse; a moment's mistake is not to be feared — failing to make it right is.

Educational Value

Helps children feel family love, forgiveness, and perseverance, learn to take responsibility for honest mistakes, and build observation by comparing similar tales.

Tips for Parents

Playing 'spot the difference' with this tale, The Six Swans, and The Seven Ravens is a great thinking game. Note: the opening has a father plotting to kill his sons and the ending a cruel punishment — focus on 'love and perseverance.'

Talk About It

To let the daughter inherit the kingdom alone, the father was ready to kill his twelve sons. Do you think such favouritism was right?
The sister only accidentally plucked twelve flowers, yet her brothers became ravens. When an honest mistake causes big trouble, what matters more — blaming yourself, or finding a way to fix it?
To save her brothers she kept silent for seven years, was falsely accused, and was almost burned. What strength kept her going?
This story is very like The Six Swans and The Seven Ravens. Which do you like best, and why?