The Story of the Youth Who Went Forth to Learn What Fear Was
The waiting-maid who devises the plan with the gudgeons to teach the youth to shudder.
Faithful John
The waiting-maid who first sees Faithful John's golden wares and leads him to the princess.
Rapunzel
The husband who steals rampion for his wife and agrees to give up their child.
The Three Snake-Leaves
The faithful servant who keeps the snake-leaves, witnesses the murder attempt, rescues his master, and helps expose the truth.
The White Snake
The king's trusty servant who eats the white snake, gains animal speech, proves his innocence, and later wins the princess's hand.
The Riddle
The faithful servant who kills the raven and later helps expose the princess's cheating.
The Seven Ravens
The father who curses his sons in anger.
The Singing Bone
The shepherd who finds the bone and brings the singing horn to the king.
The Tailor in Heaven
The lame tailor who sneaks into heaven, sits on God's throne, and throws the footstool at an old woman.
The Wishing-Table, the Gold-Ass, and the Cudgel in the Sack
The innkeeper who steals the wishing-table and gold-ass from the first two sons.
The Elves
A poor servant girl who cleans the elves' cave and is rewarded with gold.
Second Story
A poor, industrious servant-girl who is invited by elves to be a godmother and stays with them for three days, only to find seven years have passed.
The Golden Bird
The grooms who seize the youth after the horse neighs.
The Little Peasant
The miller's wife who hides the food and the parson from her husband.
Allerleirauh
The cook who assigns Allerleirauh kitchen duties and allows her to watch the festivals.
The Twelve Huntsmen
A servant loyal to the huntsmen who warns them of the lion's tests.
How Six Men Got on in the World
The discharged soldier who gathers the six companions and leads them.
The Pink
The old cook who steals the prince and frames the queen; he is transformed into a poodle and later executed.
Hans in Luck
The butcher who exchanges a pig for Hans's cow.
The Poor Man and the Rich Man
Initially curious about the poor man's good fortune, later becomes the unintended victim of her husband's second wish.
The Young Giant
The young giant works as a head-servant on a farm, demanding blows as wages and performing incredible feats of strength.
The Three Little Birds
The old woman who helps the maiden cross the water and gives her instructions to free her brothers and the prince.
The Water of Life
The huntsman ordered to kill the youngest prince, but instead spares him and reveals the truth.
The Spirit in the Bottle
The spirit Mercurius, imprisoned in a bottle under an oak tree, who threatens to strangle his rescuer but ultimately rewards him with a magical plaster.
The Jew Among Thorns
A diligent and honest servant who works for three years without wages, receives only three farthings, and is granted three magical wishes by a dwarf.
The Two Kings' Children
The servant who gives the prince a sleeping drink but later helps him stay awake.
The Bright Sun Brings It to Light
The protagonist who murders a Jew out of greed and later marries, only to be undone by his confession.
The Three Army-Surgeons
The innkeeper's servant who loses the surgeons' organs and replaces them with substitutes.
The Three Apprentices
The three apprentices are the central characters; they agree to the Devil's bargain, are framed for murder, and ultimately freed.
Donkey Cabbages
The witch's servant who also eats the transforming salad and becomes a donkey, later restored.
The Devil and His Grandmother
Three deserters who sign a pact with the Devil; two are fearful, but the third cleverly seeks help and secures their freedom.
Ferdinand the Faithful
Ferdinand the Unfaithful, a wicked man who uses dark arts to know Ferdinand the Faithful's thoughts and plots against him.
The Fox and the Horse
The horse, a faithful servant who is cast out when old and weak.
The White Bride and the Black One
The stepdaughter's brother and the king's coachman, who paints her portrait, is blinded by the stepmother's witchcraft, and is imprisoned in a snake pit before being rescued.
Iron John
The cook who takes the youth into service at the palace.
The Lambkin and the Little Fish
The cook who spares the lamb after hearing its conversation with the fish.
Odds and Ends
The industrious servant who gathers the discarded flax, spins it, and makes a dress, ultimately winning the bridegroom.
The Griffin
The ferryman who carries people across the lake; learns from Hans how to end his labor.
Strong Hans
A giant-like companion recruited by Hans for his strength, later betrays him.
The Willow-Wren
The cock who calms the hen and explains the birds' plan to choose a king.
The Owl
The manservant who first discovers the owl in the barn and runs to tell his master.
The Duration of Life
Complains about his painful existence and is relieved of eighteen years.
The Giant and the Tailor
A boastful tailor who claims he can do extraordinary feats, frightening the giant.
The Sea-Hare
The merchant (the fox in disguise) who sells the sea-hare to the princess.
The Grave-Mound
A paid-off soldier with no fear, who helps the poor man watch the grave and outwits the Devil with a clever trick.
Maid Maleen
The waiting-woman imprisoned with Maid Maleen, who helps her escape.
The Boots of Buffalo-Leather
A fearless discharged soldier who travels with buffalo-leather boots and uses a trick to freeze robbers.
Our Lady's Little Glass
The wagoner, whose cart is stuck and who provides wine to Our Lady.