# the maiden — Household Tales character guide > the maiden in Household Tales by Jacob Grimm. **Role:** major **Also known as:** the maiden, The maiden **First appearance:** 0000-the-frog-king-or-iron-henry ## Snapshot A witch's daughter who warns a traveling king's son against her mother's poisoned drink, then watches as the plot's traps consume the guilty instead. ## Who they are She is the honest daughter of a wicked witch, caught between loyalty to her mother and her instinct to protect the strangers who arrive at their door. Her warning about the poisoned parting draught sets off a chain of accidents that kills the witch, a raven, and a den of murderers, leaving a proud princess and a riddle contest ahead. Her quiet decency marks her as the tale's moral counterweight to her mother's malice. ## Relationships ### [the young King](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/characters/the_young_king) _romantic_ The maiden is the young king's love interest or destined bride, central to many fairy tale plots. ### [the son](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/characters/the_son) _family_ The maiden and the son are likely siblings or close relatives, often appearing in shared quests. ### [Brother Lustig](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/characters/brother_lustig) _social_ Brother Lustig and the maiden cross paths in wandering tales, often with comic misunderstandings. ### [Brother Lustig](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/characters/brother_lustig) _social_ Brother Lustig and the maiden cross paths in wandering tales, often with comic misunderstandings. ### [the young King](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/characters/the_young_king) _romantic_ The maiden is the young king's love interest or destined bride, central to many fairy tale plots. ### [Brother Lustig](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/characters/brother_lustig) _social_ Brother Lustig and the maiden cross paths in wandering tales, often with comic misunderstandings. ### [the son](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/characters/the_son) _family_ The maiden and the son are likely siblings or close relatives, often appearing in shared quests. ### [the young King](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/characters/the_young_king) _romantic_ The maiden is the young king's love interest or destined bride, central to many fairy tale plots. ### [the son](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/characters/the_son) _family_ The maiden and the son are likely siblings or close relatives, often appearing in shared quests. ## In the story ### [Little Brother and Little Sister](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/little-brother-and-little-sister) The sister, referred to as a maiden, who marries the King and becomes Queen. ### [The Three Little Men in the Wood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-three-little-men-in-the-wood) The stepsister who is rude to the dwarfs and is cursed with ugliness, toads from her mouth, and a miserable death. ### [The Three Spinners](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-three-spinners) The girl is referred to as the maiden after she is taken to the palace. ### [Cinderella](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/cinderella) Cinderella's mother, who on her deathbed advises her daughter to be good and pious. ### [The Riddle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-riddle) The stepdaughter who warns the travelers about her stepmother's wicked arts. ### [Mother Holle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/mother-holle) The ugly and idle stepsister who serves Mother Holle poorly and is covered with pitch. ### [The Seven Ravens](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-seven-ravens) The sister who undertakes the quest to free her brothers. ### [The Wishing-Table, the Gold-Ass, and the Cudgel in the Sack](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-wishing-table-the-gold-ass-and-the-cudgel-in-the-sack) The goat that deceives the tailor and his sons, causing the sons to be driven out. ### [The Robber Bridegroom](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-robber-bridegroom) The miller's beautiful daughter, betrothed to a suitor she secretly fears; she visits his house, witnesses a murder, and later exposes the bridegroom. ### [Frau Trude](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/frau-trude) The obstinate and inquisitive girl who disobeys her parents and visits Frau Trude. ### [Fitcher's Bird](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/fitcher-s-bird) The eldest daughter, first kidnapped by the wizard, who enters the forbidden room and is murdered. ### [Fitcher's Bird](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/fitcher-s-bird) The second daughter, also kidnapped and murdered after entering the forbidden room. ### [The Juniper-Tree](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-juniper-tree) The first wife who dies after childbirth, buried under the juniper tree. ### [The Six Swans](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-six-swans) The witch's daughter who becomes queen; she uses magic to transform the king's sons into swans. ### [Sweetheart Roland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/sweetheart-roland) Alternate reference to the stepdaughter, especially in her transformed state as a flower and later as a housekeeper for the shepherd. ### [The Golden Bird](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-golden-bird) The beautiful princess from the Golden Castle who becomes the youth's bride. ### [The Three Feathers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-three-feathers) A beautiful maiden transformed from a little toad by the magical toad, who becomes Simpleton's wife and wins the final leaping contest. ### [The Golden Goose](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-golden-goose) The second daughter of the innkeeper, who also becomes stuck to the goose. ### [The Hare’s Bride](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-hare-s-bride) The daughter who is sent to chase the hare, eventually taken to the hare's hut as a bride, but escapes by substituting a straw doll. ### [The Twelve Huntsmen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-twelve-huntsmen) The prince's first betrothed who disguises herself and eleven maidens as huntsmen to be near him. ### [Jorinda and Joringel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/jorinda-and-joringel) Jorinda, a fair maiden turned into a nightingale by the witch. ### [The Pink](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-pink) The girl wished for by the prince; she refuses to kill him and is later transformed into a pink flower. ### [Hans Married](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/hans-married) The rich peasant's daughter who marries Hans and is shown his patched smock-frock as his property. ### [The Gold-Children](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-gold-children) The beautiful maiden who marries the gold-child and remains faithful despite her father's anger. ### [The Goose-Girl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-goose-girl) The waiting-maid who usurps the princess's identity and marries the prince. ### [The King of the Golden Mountain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-king-of-the-golden-mountain) The enchanted princess who becomes his wife and later betrays him by stealing the wishing-ring. ### [The Three Little Birds](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-three-little-birds) The queen's daughter, who sets out to find her brothers, receives guidance from an old woman, retrieves a bird and water, and frees a prince. ### [Sweet Porridge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/sweet-porridge) The mother of the girl, who accidentally causes the porridge to overflow by not knowing the stopping command. ### [Wise Folks](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/wise-folks) A widow who believes the peasant came from heaven and gives him money for her husband. ### [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) A magical cat who is actually a princess; she tests Hans's faithfulness and rewards him with a horse and marriage. ### [Hans the Hedgehog](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/hans-the-hedgehog) Second king's daughter, who willingly marries Hans and helps him burn his hedgehog skin, leading to his transformation. ### [The Cunning Little Tailor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-cunning-little-tailor) The princess is the maiden in this tale, though she is not a passive figure; she actively tries to thwart the tailor. ### [The Bright Sun Brings It to Light](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-bright-sun-brings-it-to-light) The tailor's wife, who extracts his secret and inadvertently causes his downfall by sharing it. ### [The King's Son Who Feared Nothing](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-king-s-son-who-feared-nothing) The enchanted black maiden who becomes white and fair after the king's son endures three nights of torment. ### [Donkey Cabbages](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/donkey-cabbages) The beautiful maiden under the witch's control who betrays the huntsman but is ultimately forgiven and married. ### [Ferdinand the Faithful](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/ferdinand-the-faithful) An honest girl at the inn who falls in love with Ferdinand the Faithful and helps him secure a position as outrider. ### [One-Eye, Two-Eyes, and Three-Eyes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/one-eye-two-eyes-and-three-eyes) The wise woman who advises Two-Eyes and provides the magical goat and instructions. ### [The White Bride and the Black One](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-white-bride-and-the-black-one) The rude biological daughter of the stepmother, cursed to be black and ugly, who impersonates the stepdaughter and marries the king. ### [The Three Black Princesses](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-three-black-princesses) The three black princesses who are trapped in the enchanted castle and seek deliverance. ### [The Maid of Brakel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-maid-of-brakel) A girl from Brakel who goes to St. Anne's Chapel to pray for a husband. ### [Brides on Their Trial](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/brides-on-their-trial) The third sister, chosen for her careful and thrifty way of eating cheese. ### [Odds and Ends](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/odds-and-ends) The lazy bride who throws away knotted flax and is abandoned by her bridegroom. ### [Snow-White and Rose-Red](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/snow-white-and-rose-red) Appears as Rose-red, the lively sister who enjoys the outdoors and marries the prince's brother. ### [The Glass Coffin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-glass-coffin) A beautiful count's daughter imprisoned in a glass coffin by a magician. ### [Strong Hans](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/strong-hans) A princess imprisoned in the castle dungeon by the dwarf, rescued twice by Hans. ### [The Hut in the Forest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-hut-in-the-forest) The youngest daughter, referred to as the maiden, who feeds the animals and is rewarded with marriage to the prince. ### [The Nix of the Millpond](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-nix-of-the-millpond) The beautiful and truehearted maiden who marries the huntsman and later works to free him. ### [The True Sweethearts](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-true-sweethearts) The same as the girl, referred to as the maiden after inheriting the castle and becoming a cowherd. ### [The Hare and the Hedgehog](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-hare-and-the-hedgehog) The hedgehog's wife, who helps him by impersonating him during the race. ### [The Spindle, the Shuttle, and the Needle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-spindle-the-shuttle-and-the-needle) The orphaned girl who lives alone after her godmother's death, industriously spinning, weaving, and sewing, and who uses her magical tools to attract the prince. ### [The Drummer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-drummer) The beautiful maiden who helps the drummer complete impossible tasks by using her wishing-ring. ### [St. Joseph in the Forest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/st-joseph-in-the-forest) The second daughter, who shares her food but insists on sharing the bed, and receives a small sack of money. ### [The Rose](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-rose) The mother of the two children, who tends the rose and discovers her daughter's death. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/characters/the_maiden - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/characters