# Clever Hans — Household Tales character guide

> Clever Hans in Household Tales by Jacob Grimm.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Hans, The good Hans, Stupid Hans, dear Hans, stupid Hans

**First appearance:** 0031-clever-hans

## Snapshot

Raised in a robbers' cave, he builds a fir club and beats the captain bloody to learn his father's name, then carries home a sack of stolen treasure.

## Who they are

He is a boy who grows up tall and strong among robbers, taught to read by his captive mother, and who at nine demands to know his father's identity. When the captain boxes his ears, Hans waits a year, then returns with his club and beats the whole band senseless. His stubborn courage and the enormous sack of gold and silver he hauls home make him both a comic and a triumphant figure in the tale's opening arc.

## Relationships

### [Grethel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/characters/grethel)

_friendship_

Clever Hans and Grethel are companions in humorous or trickster tales, often working together.

### [the young King](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/characters/the_young_king)

_friendship_

Clever Hans aids the young king with wit and cunning in various predicaments.

### [Mother Holle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/characters/mother_holle)

_psychological_

Clever Hans and Mother Holle engage in a battle of wits, with Hans often outsmarting her.

### [Grethel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/characters/grethel)

_friendship_

Clever Hans and Grethel are companions in humorous or trickster tales, often working together.

### [Grethel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/characters/grethel)

_friendship_

Clever Hans and Grethel are companions in humorous or trickster tales, often working together.

### [the young King](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/characters/the_young_king)

_friendship_

Clever Hans aids the young king with wit and cunning in various predicaments.

### [Mother Holle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/characters/mother_holle)

_psychological_

Clever Hans and Mother Holle engage in a battle of wits, with Hans often outsmarting her.

### [Mother Holle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/characters/mother_holle)

_psychological_

Clever Hans and Mother Holle engage in a battle of wits, with Hans often outsmarting her.

### [the young King](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/characters/the_young_king)

_friendship_

Clever Hans aids the young king with wit and cunning in various predicaments.

## In the story

### [Clever Hans](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/clever-hans)

The protagonist who repeatedly misinterprets his mother's advice, leading to a series of absurd mishaps.

### [Clever Elsie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/clever-elsie)

Elsie's suitor and later husband, who tests her cleverness and ultimately tricks her into doubting her own identity.

### [The Thief and His Master](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-thief-and-his-master)

The father who places his son with the master-thief and later helps him by selling the transformed animals.

### [Hans Married](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/hans-married)

The young peasant who is tricked into appearing wealthy to secure a rich wife.

### [The Poor Miller's Boy and the Cat](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-poor-miller-s-boy-and-the-cat)

The simple miller's boy who is abandoned by his fellow apprentices but faithfully serves the cat for seven years.

### [The Seven Swabians](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-seven-swabians)

Sixth of the seven, who chides Veitli for being too late for dragon-hunting.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/characters/clever_hans
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/characters