A girl came by the river, staggering under the weight of the load on her back. She stopped, dropped her firewood, and hastily stirred the fire that she alone had to keep burning. The day was hot and the river, inviting. She stripped, ran to the water, and jumped in,...
Story Themes Results
Your Search Results
Porcelain Maiden
Themes: Attraction | Trust
I went swimming with my friends, and when we came out of the lake I couldn't find my clothes! I knew where I had stashed them. They were dazzling white. There wasn't any other explanation except that they had been stolen! My friends stopped helping me when they...
Stupid Hans Who Finds the Griffin
Themes: Authenticity | Belonging | Kinship | Trust
All my life I've been told I'm stupid. Why? Because I'm honest and I trust people. My brothers don't believe you can trust anyone, but that has never been my experience. Everywhere I go, I tell the truth, and everywhere I go, I meet somebody who is kind, or requires...
Shy Carpenter
Themes: Friendship | Terror | Trust
My best friend and I grew up in houses that stood side-by-side, and our fathers were both carpenters. We were so close to one another that we used to be called Little Fork and Little Knife. My friend became a soldier, and I became a carpenter. He was much more...
Princess Who Rides a Lion
Themes: Fatigue | Friendship | Trust
My brother went hunting one day and didn’t return. I nearly wept myself blind! Then, when I could no longer stand it, I went out into the forest to search for him. After I had gone a long way, I became tired. I had to find a place to rest. I looked around and what did...
Earthworkers
Themes: Admiration | Friendship | Trust | Wonder
The king's youngest daughter is our princess, and we serve her. When she comes into the forest and summons us: "Earthworkers, come out!" we appear from under every root and stone. When she asks for help, we ask no questions. If she wants the forest cut down and the...
Penniless Woodcutter Father
I worked from dawn to dusk cutting wood, and I saved enough money to send my son to high school. He was a diligent student and his teachers praised him, but when he came home, he said, "Ah, father, I've learned a little, but in these hard times, I can't earn a...
Blood-Red Flower
Themes: Freedom | Imagination | Trust
Joringel dreamed that he found me growing in a meadow with a large pearl at the center of my blossom. He picked me, carried me to an enchanted castle, and everything I touched was freed, including his true love. It is a good thing that Joringel listens to his dreams....
Milkmaid Queen
Our little empire is even smaller than Petaldo's parents' kingdom. It's really only a dairy farm, but we are very happy. Every day, I go to the dairy, and, in addition to making my cheeses, I make a little barley cake and a tiny cream cheese. Then I put them under the...
Abeille Meeting the Little People
When Youri and I were children, we decided to go up the mountain and climb to the lake where the undines lived. It was hard going, and I became hobbled by a stone in my shoe. At last, I grew too weary to climb on, and, besides, it was getting dark. I lay down on a...
Lion Suitor
Themes: Disguise | Exposure | Pursuit | Trust
I got into the secret chamber of the princess by hiding in a lion made out of gold. The king brought the lion to his daughter, and when she and her friends were sleeping, I whispered to her, "Oh, lovely princess, if you only knew what I have gone through to find you."...
Snow-White Rose Tree
Themes: Belonging | Kindness | Kinship | Trust
I bear white roses. My sister, who grows beside me, bears red ones. We stand in a garden before a poor cottage where a widow lives with her two daughters. They are as old as we are, and one is named Snow-White, the other, Rose-Red. They are the sweetest and best...
Sister of Rose-Red
Themes: Innocence | Kinship | Trust
While I am more of an inside sort of person, my sister Rose-Red loves to run about the fields, pick flowers, and catch butterflies. When we go into the woods together to gather berries, no harm ever comes to us. The little hare eats the cabbage from our hands and the...
Mother of Snow-White and Rose-Red
Themes: Exposure | Protection | Trust | Vigilance
An angel guards my children. That's why I'm not afraid to let them play and sleep in the woods. Truly, I tell you, they will not be harmed. For instance, one morning, after they had slept through the night in the forest, they woke and saw a figure in a shining white...
Gulliver
Six hundred little servants were appointed to me, and three hundred tailors, while six of his Majesty's greatest scholars set about to teach me the Lilliputian language. The first words I learned were to ask for my liberty, which I repeated every day, on my knees. I...
Lilliputian Child
Themes: Innocence | Joy | Trust | Wonder
“Let's go and play hide and seek in the hair of the Man-Mountain!” My friend was already running in the direction of the palace square. I was pretty sure that we would be safe. My mother and father had said that he was an exceedingly gentle giant who had gained the...
Fortunatus
Themes: Departure | Inspiration | Trust
My father had a great fortune but he didn’t value it. By the time I reached the age of ten, he had squandered his wealth. I didn’t get any education. When I was ready to leave home, I had no trade, and my father confessed that he had failed me. I should have been out...
Washing Woman
Themes: Trust
I was at the river washing my sweet potatoes in a hollow bamboo when all of a sudden, something got stuck in the pipe. I blew on one end, and a little bird came flying out of the bamboo like a pea out of a peashooter! I knew him. It was Pivi, a cheerful little fellow...