Household Tales · Character

the son

Raised in a robbers' cave on his mother's tales of knights, Hans builds a fir-club and demands the father he has never seen.

major

Also known as the son, The son

First appearance: the frog king or iron henry

As a major figure in Household Tales, the son is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

The third son who becomes a turner and uses the cudgel to recover the magical table and ass.

In the storyThe Wishing-Table, the Gold-Ass, and the Cudgel in the SackOpen this moment free

See the son in The Wishing-Table, the Gold-Ass, and the Cudgel in the Sack Book page

Free preview opens at this moment — character cards, Character Web, and themes sit beside the text as you read.

With the young King (family): The son is likely the young king's father or close relative, guiding him through trials and succession. With the maiden (family): The maiden and the son are likely siblings or close…

Continue beside the text

The fuller portrait of the son sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See the son in the frog king or iron henry

Character Web

55 connections

A slice of how the son sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Family
Romantic
Other

Character groups

Protagonist
Folkloric Character Archetypes

+50 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

The emotional and psychological peak occurs when the sisters, driven by envy of the Queen’s beauty and their o…

Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.

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Relationships

the young King
family · positive
The son is likely the young king's father or close relative, guiding him through trials… How this plays out →
the maiden
family · positive
the princess
romantic · positive
Mother Holle
family · ambivalent
the young King
family · positive
The son is likely the young king's father or close relative, guiding him through trials… How this plays out →
Mother Holle
family · ambivalent
the maiden
family · positive
the maiden
family · positive
Mother Holle
family · ambivalent
the princess
romantic · positive

the young King
The son is likely the young king's father or close relative, guiding him through trials and succession.
the maiden
The maiden and the son are likely siblings or close relatives, often appearing in shared quests.
the princess
The princess and the son are often paired as romantic interests in marriage quests.
Mother Holle
Mother Holle is the son's mother or stepmother, often controlling or testing him.
the young King
The son is likely the young king's father or close relative, guiding him through trials and succession.
Mother Holle
Mother Holle is the son's mother or stepmother, often controlling or testing him.
the maiden
The maiden and the son are likely siblings or close relatives, often appearing in shared quests.
the maiden
The maiden and the son are likely siblings or close relatives, often appearing in shared quests.
Mother Holle
Mother Holle is the son's mother or stepmother, often controlling or testing him.
the princess
The princess and the son are often paired as romantic interests in marriage quests.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See the son in the frog king or iron henry

In the story

the son appears across 17 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

The Wishing-Table, the Gold-Ass, and the Cudgel in the Sack
The third son who becomes a turner and uses the cudgel to recover the magical table and ass.
Godfather Death
The thirteenth child who becomes the physician; godson of Death.
The Knapsack, the Hat, and the Horn
The eldest brother who takes silver and returns home.
The Two Brothers
The other twin brother; shares the same fate, separates from his brother, is turned to stone, then revived.
The Thief and His Master
Hans's son, who learns thieving and shape-shifting, and ultimately defeats the master-thief.
The Three Sons of Fortune
The eldest son who receives a cock and sells it for gold on an island where cocks are unknown.
The Three Sons of Fortune
The second son who receives a scythe and sells it for gold on an island where scythes are unknown.
The Three Sons of Fortune
The third son who receives a cat and sells it for gold on an island where cats are unknown.
The Gold-Children
The other golden child who rides through the forest, marries, and is turned to stone by a witch before being rescued by his brother.
The King of the Golden Mountain
The merchant's son, promised to the black dwarf, later becomes King of the Golden Mountain.
The Three Little Birds
The queen's second son, who later goes hunting and plays the flute, leading the king to discover the truth.
The Water of Life
The eldest prince who behaves haughtily toward the dwarf and becomes trapped.
Wise Folks
The woman's son who gives his horse to the peasant in hopes of contacting his father in heaven.
The Three Brothers
The three sons are the central characters, each learning a trade and competing for the house.
The Three Black Princesses
The poor fisherman's son who is taken prisoner, later enters the enchanted castle and attempts to deliver the three black princesses.
The Ungrateful Son
The ungrateful son who hides food from his father and is punished by a toad clinging to his face.
The Three Sluggards
The three sons of the king, each vying for the throne by proving their laziness.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for the son unlock in the free preview.

See the son in the frog king or iron henry

See the son in The Wishing-Table, the Gold-Ass, and the Cudgel in the Sack