# the boy — Household Tales character guide > the boy in Household Tales by Jacob Grimm. **Role:** major **Also known as:** the boy, The boy **First appearance:** 0000-the-frog-king-or-iron-henry ## Snapshot A boy raised in a robbers' cave who, at nine, demands his father's name and beats the captain with a fir club until the band lies helpless. ## Who they are He is the child of a captive mother and an absent father, growing up among godless robbers who would never let him leave. His mother teaches him to read from an old book of knights, and at nine he hides a club behind the bed and confronts the captain. His stubborn insistence on knowing his father, and the beating he gives the band, drive the tale's early movement toward escape and reunion. ## Relationships ### [the young King](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/characters/the_young_king) _family_ The boy is likely the young king's son or younger relative, learning from him. ### [the young King](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/characters/the_young_king) _family_ The boy is likely the young king's son or younger relative, learning from him. ### [the young King](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/characters/the_young_king) _family_ The boy is likely the young king's son or younger relative, learning from him. ## In the story ### [The Wolf and the Seven Little Kids](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-wolf-and-the-seven-little-kids) The seven little kids, the children of the goat. ### [Little Brother and Little Sister](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/little-brother-and-little-sister) The brother who is transformed into a roebuck after drinking from a bewitched brook. ### [The Valiant Little Tailor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-valiant-little-tailor) The little tailor who kills seven flies, defeats giants, and becomes king. ### [The Singing Bone](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-singing-bone) The elder, crafty brother who kills his sibling out of envy and claims the reward. ### [The Juniper-Tree](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-juniper-tree) The son of the first wife, murdered by his stepmother, then resurrected as a bird and finally restored to human form. ### [The Two Brothers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-two-brothers) One of the twin brothers; eats the heart and liver of the golden bird, becomes a huntsman, later rescues his brother from a witch. ### [The Water-Nix](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-water-nix) The little brother who falls into the well and is forced to hew a tree with a blunt axe; he throws a comb to create an obstacle during the escape. ### [The Gold-Children](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-gold-children) One of the golden children who returns home after being mocked, and later rescues his brother from the witch. ### [The King of the Golden Mountain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-king-of-the-golden-mountain) The son of the King and Queen of the Golden Mountain, taken away by the queen. ### [The Three Little Birds](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-three-little-birds) The queen's eldest son, rescued by a fisherman, who first sets out to find his father. ### [The Water of Life](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-water-of-life) The second prince who also acts haughtily and is trapped in the ravine. ### [The Spirit in the Bottle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-spirit-in-the-bottle) The poor woodcutter's son who studies diligently, releases the spirit, and uses the magical plaster to gain wealth and become a famous doctor. ### [Stories About Snakes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/stories-about-snakes) A child who shares his food with a snake and later mourns its death. ### [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 Cunning Little Tailor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-cunning-little-tailor) The little tailor, though not a boy, is referred to as a 'little' and 'useless' figure; he is the cunning protagonist. ### [The Four Skilful Brothers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-four-skilful-brothers) One of the four poor brothers who learns a trade. ### [The Lambkin and the Little Fish](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-lambkin-and-the-little-fish) The little brother, transformed into a fish by his stepmother's witchcraft. ### [The Old Beggar-Woman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-old-beggar-woman) A friendly but negligent boy who invites the beggar-woman to warm herself but fails to extinguish her burning rags. ### [The Shepherd Boy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-shepherd-boy) The shepherd boy who answers the king's three questions with wisdom and is adopted as the king's child. ### [Strong Hans](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/strong-hans) The protagonist, a boy of great strength and determination, who rescues his mother and later a princess. ### [The Poor Boy in the Grave](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-poor-boy-in-the-grave) The poor orphan shepherd-boy who is mistreated by the farmer and ultimately dies in a grave after consuming honey and wine. ### [The Golden Key](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-golden-key) A poor boy forced to fetch wood in winter; he discovers the golden key and iron chest. ### [Children's Legends](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/children-s-legends) A child protagonist in one of the legends, learning a moral lesson. ### [The Heavenly Wedding](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-heavenly-wedding) A poor peasant boy who believes he has reached heaven and stays in the church, sharing his food with the wooden image. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/characters/the_boy - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/characters