# the servant — Household Tales character guide > the servant in Household Tales by Jacob Grimm. **Role:** minor **Also known as:** The servant **First appearance:** 0000-the-frog-king-or-iron-henry ## Who they are A generic servant character appearing in many tales. ## In the story ### [The Story of the Youth Who Went Forth to Learn What Fear Was](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/faithful-john) The waiting-maid who first sees Faithful John's golden wares and leads him to the princess. ### [Rapunzel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/rapunzel) The husband who steals rampion for his wife and agrees to give up their child. ### [The Three Snake-Leaves](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-riddle) The faithful servant who kills the raven and later helps expose the princess's cheating. ### [The Seven Ravens](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-seven-ravens) The father who curses his sons in anger. ### [The Singing Bone](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-singing-bone) The shepherd who finds the bone and brings the singing horn to the king. ### [The Tailor in Heaven](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-elves) A poor servant girl who cleans the elves' cave and is rewarded with gold. ### [Second Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-golden-bird) The grooms who seize the youth after the horse neighs. ### [The Little Peasant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-little-peasant) The miller's wife who hides the food and the parson from her husband. ### [Allerleirauh](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/allerleirauh) The cook who assigns Allerleirauh kitchen duties and allows her to watch the festivals. ### [The Twelve Huntsmen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/how-six-men-got-on-in-the-world) The discharged soldier who gathers the six companions and leads them. ### [The Pink](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/hans-in-luck) The butcher who exchanges a pig for Hans's cow. ### [The Poor Man and the Rich Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-three-army-surgeons) The innkeeper's servant who loses the surgeons' organs and replaces them with substitutes. ### [The Three Apprentices](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/donkey-cabbages) The witch's servant who also eats the transforming salad and becomes a donkey, later restored. ### [The Devil and His Grandmother](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/iron-john) The cook who takes the youth into service at the palace. ### [The Lambkin and the Little Fish](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-lambkin-and-the-little-fish) The cook who spares the lamb after hearing its conversation with the fish. ### [Odds and Ends](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/odds-and-ends) The industrious servant who gathers the discarded flax, spins it, and makes a dress, ultimately winning the bridegroom. ### [The Griffin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-griffin) The ferryman who carries people across the lake; learns from Hans how to end his labor. ### [Strong Hans](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/strong-hans) A giant-like companion recruited by Hans for his strength, later betrays him. ### [The Willow-Wren](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-willow-wren) The cock who calms the hen and explains the birds' plan to choose a king. ### [The Owl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-owl) The manservant who first discovers the owl in the barn and runs to tell his master. ### [The Duration of Life](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-duration-of-life) Complains about his painful existence and is relieved of eighteen years. ### [The Giant and the Tailor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-giant-and-the-tailor) A boastful tailor who claims he can do extraordinary feats, frightening the giant. ### [The Sea-Hare](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-sea-hare) The merchant (the fox in disguise) who sells the sea-hare to the princess. ### [The Grave-Mound](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/maid-maleen) The waiting-woman imprisoned with Maid Maleen, who helps her escape. ### [The Boots of Buffalo-Leather](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/our-lady-s-little-glass) The wagoner, whose cart is stuck and who provides wine to Our Lady. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/characters/the_servant - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/characters