十二兄弟
导读
如果你读过本站的《六只天鹅》和《七只乌鸦》，那你已经很熟悉这个故事的'家族'了——它们都属于'妹妹拯救变成鸟的哥哥'类型（ATU 451）。有趣的是，格林兄弟同时收集了好几个版本，把它们放在一起读，就能看到民间故事是怎样'变形'的：这里是十二个哥哥，妹妹一不小心摘了十二朵百合，他们就变成了乌鸦；她要沉默七年、不说话不笑才能救他们，后来嫁给国王、被恶毒的婆婆诬陷、险些被烧死——这些情节几乎和《六只天鹅》一模一样。这个版本的开头格外沉重：父亲竟打算杀掉十二个儿子，好让女儿一人继承整个王国（这其实映照着古代'财产只传给一个继承人'的焦虑）；哥哥们甚至愤而发誓要向所有女孩复仇。可正是那个'害'他们被逐的妹妹，用自己的爱和七年的沉默，化解了仇恨、救回了他们。读的时候可以和孩子一起'找不同'：这一篇和《六只天鹅》《七只乌鸦》，哪里一样、哪里不一样？（提示家长：本篇开头有'父亲要杀子'、结尾有对恶人的酷刑，情节较重，建议侧重'爱与坚持'来讲。）
《十二兄弟》词汇精讲
本故事精选 12 个重点词汇，附中英释义与原文例句，帮助孩子扩展英语词汇量。
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。
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。
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。
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。
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。
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。
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。
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。
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。
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。
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。
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。
延伸阅读与亲子共读
故事寓意
爱与坚持能化解仇恨、战胜诅咒；一时的过失并不可怕，可怕的是不去弥补。
教育价值
帮助孩子体会亲情、宽恕与坚持，学会为无心之过负责，并在对比同类故事中培养观察力。
家长共读提示
和孩子把本篇与《六只天鹅》《七只乌鸦》放一起'找不同'，是很好的思维游戏。注意：开头有'父亲要杀子'、结尾有酷刑，建议侧重'爱与坚持'。
和孩子聊一聊
- 父亲为了让女儿一个人继承王国，竟然要杀掉十二个儿子。你觉得他这样'偏心'对吗？
- 妹妹只是不小心摘了十二朵花，哥哥们就变成了乌鸦。一个'无心之失'造成了大麻烦——这时最重要的是自责，还是想办法补救？
- 为了救哥哥，妹妹忍了七年不说话、不笑，还被冤枉、差点被烧死。是什么力量让她坚持了下来？
- 这个故事和《六只天鹅》《七只乌鸦》很像。你更喜欢哪一个？为什么？
