The Golden Bird - Grimm’s Fairy Tale (2024)

"The Golden Bird" is a fairy tale about a prince's quest to obtain a beautiful golden bird, facing trials and tribulations along the way.

The Story of "The Golden Bird"

Once upon a time, there was a King who owned a beautiful pleasure-garden surrounding his palace. In this garden, there stood a tree which bore golden apples. As the apples were almost ripe, they were counted, but the next morning, one of them had disappeared.

The King was informed about this and he ordered his men to keep watch every night under the tree. The King had three sons and he sent his eldest son to keep watch in the garden at nightfall. However, by midnight, he fell asleep and the next morning, another apple was missing.

On the following night, the second son took his turn to keep watch but he did no better. As soon as the clock struck midnight, he too was fast asleep and in the morning another apple was gone.

Finally, it was the third son's turn. Although he was ready, the King had little confidence in him and believed he would do no better than his brothers. However, he eventually allowed his youngest son to keep watch. The young prince lay down under the tree, determined not to let sleep overcome him.

As the clock struck twelve, there was a rustling in the air, and by the light of the moon, the Prince saw a Bird with shining feathers of pure gold. The Bird perched on the tree and was just about to pluck an apple when the young prince shot an arrow at it. The Bird flew away, but the arrow hit its plumage and one of the golden feathers fell to the ground. The Prince picked it up and in the morning, he took it to the King and told him all that he had seen that night.

The King gathered his advisors, and they all concurred that the value of the feather was beyond measure. "If a single feather is worth so much," the King declared, "I won't settle for just one. I must possess the entire Bird."

The eldest son, thinking he was clever, decided to set out in search of the Golden Bird, convinced that he would find it soon. When he had gone some distance, he spotted a fox sitting by the edge of a wood and raised his gun to shoot it. The fox cried out, "Please don't shoot me, and I will give you some good advice. You are searching for the Golden Bird, and you will soon come to a village where you will find two inns across from each other. One inn will be brightly lit and full of revelry, while the other will look shabby and dilapidated. My advice to you is to go to the shabby one."

The Prince was skeptical and thought to himself, "How can a foolish animal like this give me good advice?" He pulled the trigger to shoot the fox, but it managed to escape into the woods.

Undeterred, the Prince continued his journey and arrived at the village at nightfall. He saw the two inns, one of which was brightly lit with boisterous sounds of singing and dancing emanating from inside, while the other was run-down and in poor condition. Despite the fox's warning, the Prince decided to go into the brightly lit inn, thinking to himself, "Why should I go to that rundown inn when this one looks so much better?"

Once inside, the Prince became engrossed in the wild festivities, completely forgetting about the Golden Bird, his father's wishes, and all the good advice he had received.

After some time had passed and the eldest son had not returned, the second son decided to set off on a quest to find the Golden Bird. He encountered the same Fox as his older brother had and was given the same sound advice, but he foolishly ignored it.

As he approached the two inns, he saw his brother standing at the window of the inn where the sounds of revelry emanated. He couldn't resist his brother's call, and so he went inside and indulged himself in a life of pleasure.

Once again, some time passed, and the youngest son of the King wanted to try his luck. However, his father was against it and told him it was pointless as he had even less chance than his brothers to find the Golden Bird. He thought his youngest son was spineless and would not be able to help himself if anything went wrong.

But because the youngest son persisted, his father eventually gave in. Once again, the Fox appeared at the edge of the wood, begged for its life, and gave the Prince some valuable advice. The Prince was kind-hearted and assured the Fox that he would not harm it.

The Fox replied, "You won't regret it, and to help you get there faster, come and sit on my tail."

The Prince mounted the Fox's tail, and the Fox began to run at an incredible pace. They flew over hills and valleys, past trees and streams, so quickly that the Prince's hair whistled in the wind.

When they arrived at the village, the Prince got off his horse and followed the wise advice of the Fox. He went straight to the shabby inn without taking notice of his surroundings, and there he spent a peaceful night.

The next morning, when he went out to the fields, he saw the Fox sitting there. The Fox said, "I will tell you what to do next. Keep walking straight until you reach a castle where a whole regiment of soldiers is encamped in front of it. Do not be afraid of them because they will be sound asleep. Walk through the midst of them and into the castle, through all the rooms until you find an apartment where the Golden Bird is hanging in a common wooden cage. Beware! There is a golden cage near it, but whatever you do, you must not take the bird out of the wooden cage and put it into the golden one. If you do, it will be worse for you."

After speaking, the Fox once again stretched out his tail. The Prince took a seat on it, and away they flew over hills and valleys, the wind whistling through his hair. When they arrived at the castle, everything was just as the Fox had described.

The Prince reached the room where the Golden Bird was kept in a wooden cage. A golden cage was placed nearby, while the three golden apples were scattered on the floor. He found it ridiculous to leave such a beautiful bird in an ordinary cage, so he decided to capture it and put it in the golden cage. However, as he did so, the bird let out a loud scream. The guards woke up, rushed into the room, and arrested him. The next day, he was brought before a judge and sentenced to death for his crime.

The King, however, offered to spare his life on one condition – that he bring him the Golden Horse, which runs faster than the wind. The King also promised to reward him with the Golden Bird.

Feeling dejected, the Prince set out on his mission, wondering how he would ever find the Golden Horse. Along the way, he met his old friend the Fox, who said, "You didn't listen to me earlier, but don't worry, I'll help you find the Golden Horse. Keep walking straight and you'll come across a palace. In the palace stable, you'll find the Golden Horse. The grooms will be sleeping, so you can safely lead the horse through them. But beware, use the old saddle made of wood and leather, not the golden one hanging nearby, or you'll regret it."

The Prince sat on the Fox's tail and they flew away over all kinds of obstacles, with the wind whistling through his hair.

The Prince followed the Fox's instructions and soon reached the palace. He found the Golden Horse in the stable, but he thought, "This beautiful horse deserves a better saddle than this old one." So, he put the golden saddle on the horse's back, and it began to neigh loudly. The grooms woke up and caught him, throwing him into a dungeon.

The next morning, the Prince was brought before a judge and sentenced to death. However, the King offered him a deal - spare his life and give him the Golden Horse if he could bring the beautiful Princess out of the Golden Palace. The Prince set out with a heavy heart and met the faithful Fox along the way.

The Fox said, "I should leave you to your fate, but I will have pity on you and help you out of your trouble. Your road leads straight to the Golden Palace. You will reach it in the evening, and at night when everything is quiet, the beautiful Princess will go to the bathroom to take a bath. As she goes along, spring forward and give her a kiss, and she will follow you. Lead her away with you, but on no account allow her to bid her parents goodbye, or it will go badly with you."

Once again, the Fox stretched out his tail, the Prince sat on it, and off they flew over stock and stone until his hair whistled in the wind. When he arrived at the palace, it was just as the Fox had said. He waited until midnight, and when the entire palace was asleep, he sprang forward and kissed the beautiful Princess as she went to take a bath.

The Princess agreed to go with him but begged him to let her say goodbye to her parents. Initially, he refused, but as she cried and begged at his feet, he finally relented. As soon as the Princess stepped up to her father's bed, he and everyone else in the palace woke up. The Prince was caught, seized, and thrown into prison.

The next morning, the King informed the Prince that his life was forfeited, but he could save himself by clearing away the mountain in front of the King's window within eight days. The Prince began to dig and shovel without rest, but by the seventh day, he was filled with despair as he saw how little progress he had made.

Feeling hopeless, the Prince gave up. However, the Fox appeared that evening and said, "You do not deserve any help from me, but lie down and go to sleep; I will do the work." When the Prince awoke the following morning, the mountain was gone.

Overjoyed, the Prince went to the King and informed him that he had accomplished the task. As promised, the King agreed to give him his daughter's hand in marriage.

As they made their way together, the Fox joined them, saying, "You have won the greatest prize, but the Golden Horse belongs to the Maiden of the Golden Palace."

The Prince asked the Fox how to obtain the Golden Horse. The Fox replied, "Take the Maiden to the King who sent you to the Golden Palace. When you appear, they will bring out the Golden Horse. Mount it immediately and shake hands with everyone, including the Maiden. When you take her hand firmly, pull her up beside you with a swing and gallop away. No one will be able to catch you, for the horse goes faster than the wind."

The Prince followed the Fox's instructions and successfully obtained the Golden Horse. He rode off into the sunset with the beautiful Maiden by his side.

The Fox offered to help the Prince get the Golden Bird. He suggested that when they reached the castle where the bird lived, the Maiden should dismount, and he would take care of her. The Prince could then ride the Golden Horse into the castle's courtyard. The people would be delighted to see him, and they would bring out the Golden Bird. The Prince could then take the cage and gallop back to them, picking up the Maiden on the way.

After successfully getting the Golden Bird, the Fox asked the Prince for a reward. The Prince asked what the Fox wanted.

The Fox replied, "When you reach the forest, shoot me and cut off my head and paws."

The Prince was surprised and replied, "That's not gratitude! I can't promise to do that."

"If you won't do it, I shall have to part ways with you. However, I shall leave you with one last piece of counsel. Be wary of two things: never buy gallows-birds, and don't sit on the edge of a well," the Fox warned before darting away into the forest.

The Prince thought the Fox was a strange animal, and he didn't understand his whims. They continued on their journey, and they passed through the village where the Prince's two brothers had stayed behind. There was a great hubbub in the village, and he asked what it was about. He was told that his two brothers were going to be hanged. When he got nearer, he saw that it was true. His brothers had wasted their possessions and done all sorts of evil deeds. The people said that they could be set free if the Prince paid the ransom.

Without hesitation, the Prince paid the ransom, and they all journeyed on together.

The three brothers arrived at the wood where they had first met the Fox. It was a refreshing respite from the scorching sun outside, so they decided to take a rest and have some food and drink by the well. The Prince agreed and, engrossed in conversation, he forgot about his surroundings. Unaware of the treachery of his brothers, he sat on the edge of the well. His brothers took advantage of the situation and pushed him backward into the well. They then went back to their father with the Maiden, the Horse, and the Bird, boasting of their success.

"We have not only captured the Golden Bird but also the Golden Horse and the Maiden from the Golden Palace as our prize," they said proudly.

Their father was overjoyed at the news, but soon realized that something was wrong. The Horse refused to eat, the Bird refused to sing, and the Maiden sat and wept all day.

Meanwhile, the youngest brother had not perished. Luckily, the well was dry, and he fell on a bed of soft moss without any harm. However, he was unable to climb out.

The faithful Fox, who had been following the brothers, did not abandon the Prince even in this great danger. He came leaping down and scolded the Prince for not listening to his advice.

"I cannot leave you to your fate. I will help you get back to the light of day," the Fox said.

He instructed the Prince to hold tight to his tail, and then he pulled him out of the well. But the danger was not over yet. The Fox warned the Prince that his brothers had set up watchers all over the wood to kill him if they saw him.

The Prince had finally reached the King's court, disguised as a poor old man. He had exchanged clothes with an old man sitting by the roadside to conceal his identity.

The Bird began to sing, the Horse started to eat, and the beautiful Maiden stopped crying as soon as the Prince arrived.

The King was surprised to see all this and asked the Maiden about it. She replied that she didn't know, but she felt happy and believed that her true bridegroom had arrived.

The Maiden narrated everything that had happened to her, despite the threats from the two wicked brothers who had kidnapped her. The King ordered everyone to come forward in the palace. The Prince came forward disguised as an old man, and the Maiden immediately recognised him and fell on his neck. The wicked brothers were caught and executed for their crimes. The Prince was married to the beautiful Maiden and became the heir to the King.

But what happened to the poor Fox? One day, when the Prince was out in the fields, he met the Fox again. The Fox said that although the Prince had everything he desired, the Fox's misery had no end. The Fox implored the Prince to shoot him dead, and to cut off his head and paws.

After much consideration, the Prince finally consented to do as the Fox asked. Once it was done, the Fox transformed into a man, who was none other than the brother of the beautiful Princess. He was finally set free from the evil spell that had been cast upon him long ago.

From that day on, the Prince and the beautiful Maiden lived happily ever after with no more obstacles in their way.

The Story of "The Golden Bird"
- Grimm’s Fairy Tale -

The Moral Lesson of "The Golden Bird"

"The Golden Bird" contains several moral lessons that can be gleaned from its plot and characters. Here are a few possible interpretations:

1. Don't be greedy

The youngest son is able to catch the golden bird and return it to the king, but his desire for even greater riches leads him to betray the trust of the Princess and steal the Golden Horse. As a result, he faces punishment and never becomes the ruler he desired to be. The story suggests that greed can lead to poor decision-making and ultimately harm oneself.

2. Honesty is the best policy

The youngest son could have admitted his mistake to the king and princess, but instead he chose to lie and hide his wrongdoing. This leads to his eventual downfall and punishment. The story highlights the importance of being truthful and owning up to one's mistakes.

3. Be careful who you trust

The youngest son is repeatedly deceived by the wily fox, who leads him astray with promises of greater wealth and power. The fox ultimately proves to be untrustworthy, abandoning the youngest son when he is most needed. The story warns against blindly trusting others, especially those who make extravagant promises.

4. Good things come to those who work hard

The oldest two brothers rely on their birthright and status to gain favor with the king, but it is the youngest son's diligence and perseverance that ultimately allow him to succeed in his quest. The story rewards hard work and determination, suggesting that success is earned through effort and dedication.

Overall, "The Golden Bird" offers a cautionary tale about the dangers of greed, dishonesty, and blind trust, while also celebrating the virtues of hard work and honesty.