White Snake by Brothers Grimm [PDF]

Information: White Snake

• Author: Brothers Grimm
• Publication Date: 1812
• Main Characters:
  • The Servant: A faithful young man who serves the king, gains the ability to understand animals after eating the white snake, and earns a kingdom through acts of kindness
  • The King: The servant's master who eats a secret dish each night and unknowingly shares its power when the servant tastes it
  • The Princess: A royal figure who sets three impossible tasks for her suitors, ultimately won over by the servant's success
  • The Animals: Fish, ants, and ravens that the servant helps during his travels and who later repay his kindness by completing the princess's challenges
• Brief Summary: A young servant secretly eats a piece of white snake served to the king and discovers he can now understand the speech of animals. When he is falsely accused of theft, the animals he overhears help him prove his innocence. He leaves the court and travels, helping creatures along the way: saving fish, sparing ants, and feeding hungry ravens. Later, when a princess demands three impossible tasks before she will marry anyone, those same creatures return the favor and complete the tasks for him.
• Thematic Analysis: The tale centers on reciprocity and kindness. Helping others, even small or seemingly insignificant creatures, comes back as decisive aid when it matters most. There is also a thread about forbidden knowledge: eating the snake is a transgressive act that grants power, echoing older myths about hidden wisdom.
• Historical Context: The Brothers Grimm published "White Snake" in 1812 as part of their first edition of "Kinder- und Hausmarchen" (Children's and Household Tales). Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm collected stories from oral tradition across German-speaking regions during a period of rising national identity. This tale reflects common European folklore motifs: the grateful animal, the impossible task, and the clever hero who wins through virtue rather than force.