Magic and the Supernatural

Where it surfaces

• The Wonderful Musician

  The musician's fiddle has a magical quality that compels animals and humans alike to follow its sound, overriding their will.

• The White Snake

  The white snake grants the power to understand animal speech, and the grateful animals perform supernatural feats (retrieving a ring, gathering grain, bringing an apple from the Tree of Life).

• The Straw, the Coal, and the Bean

  The straw, coal, and bean are anthropomorphized and speak, acting as magical beings in a supernatural narrative.

• Cinderella

  The hazel tree and the birds provide magical assistance, granting Cinderella's wishes and enabling her to attend the festival.

• The Louse and the Flea

  Anthropomorphic objects and natural elements (door, broom, cart, ash-heap, tree, spring) act with agency and emotion, creating a supernatural chain reaction.

• Second Story

  The elves invite the servant-girl to their hollow mountain for a christening, and time passes differently in their realm.

• Third Story

  Elves swap a human child for a changeling, and the spell is broken through a magical test involving boiling water in eggshells.

• The Godfather

  The healing water, the dream that guides the man, and the godfather's horned appearance and strange household all involve supernatural elements.

• Frau Trude

  Frau Trude is a witch who uses magic to transform the girl into wood and burn her, and the girl's visions of colored men and the devil highlight supernatural elements.

• The Juniper-Tree

  The juniper tree, the magical bird, and the resurrection of the boy are central supernatural elements that drive the plot.

• Briar-Rose

  The frog prophecy, the Wise Women's gifts and curse, the hundred-year sleep, and the enchanted thorn hedge all center on supernatural forces.

• Fundevogel (Bird-Foundling)

  The children use magical transformations (rosebush, church, fishpond and duck) to evade capture, and the cook's drowning has a supernatural justice.

• Little Snow-White

  The magic mirror, the poisoned comb and apple, and the stepmother's witchcraft are central supernatural elements.

• Rumpelstiltskin

  The little man's ability to spin straw into gold and his supernatural nature are central to the plot.

• The Hare’s Bride

  The talking hare, the animal wedding guests, and the altar under the rainbow create a supernatural, fairy-tale atmosphere.

• Jorinda and Joringel

  The witch's ability to transform into animals, lure creatures, and turn maidens into birds drives the plot, while the magical bloodred flower breaks the enchantment.

• The Water-Nix

  The water-nix is a supernatural being who uses magic to imprison the children, and the children use enchanted objects (brush, comb, looking-glass) to create magical barriers during their escape.

• Brother Lustig

  St. Peter uses a healing salve and a ritual to revive the dead, while Brother Lustig's failed attempt highlights the supernatural nature of true resurrection.

• The Singing, Springing Lark

  Enchanted lions, a sorcerer's daughter, gifts from the sun and moon, and a griffin all underscore the magical elements of the story.

• The Goose-Girl

  The talking horse Falada and the magical wind that blows Conrad's hat away introduce supernatural elements that aid the princess.

• The Raven

  The curse, the bewitched raven, and the inexhaustible food and ring are magical elements.

• The Three Little Birds

  A prophetic bird sings of the children's fate, an old woman with magical knowledge helps the maiden, and a prince is transformed into a black dog.

• Sweet Porridge

  The magical pot that cooks on command is a supernatural element that brings both blessing and disaster.

• Stories About Snakes

  Snakes appear as magical creatures that interact with humans, bringing gifts or curses.

• First Story

  The snake brings treasures and its death leads to the child's mysterious wasting away.

• The Shroud

  The child's ghost appears in its shroud, a supernatural manifestation tied to the mother's tears.

• The Jew Among Thorns

  The dwarf grants the servant three magical wishes: a gun that always hits, a fiddle that compels dancing, and the power to have any request granted.

• The Flail from Heaven

  Magical elements include the growing horns, the seed that grows into a sky-touching tree, and the peasant's visit to heaven.

• The Two Kings' Children

  Magical earth-workers, stone statues that answer calls, and enchanted walnuts with dresses drive the plot.

• The Blue Light

  The blue light and the dwarf it summons are central magical elements that enable the soldier's revenge and rise to power.

• The Three Army-Surgeons

  The magical salve that reattaches body parts and the surreal substitution of organs (thief's hand, cat's eyes, pig's heart) drive the plot.

• The King's Son Who Feared Nothing

  The magical ring, water of life, enchanted castle, and devils are central supernatural elements.

• The Old Woman in the Wood

  A white dove provides keys to magical trees, and a witch's enchantment is broken by a plain ring.

• The Shoes That Were Danced to Pieces

  The invisibility cloak, the underground castle, and the bewitched princes highlight the magical elements that drive the plot.

• The Six Servants

  The queen is a sorceress, and the servants possess supernatural abilities.

• The Three Black Princesses

  The enchanted castle, the three black princesses, and the magical transport and transformation are central to the plot.

• The Old Man Made Young Again

  The Lord's divine power to rejuvenate the old man through fire and water, and the smith's failed imitation, highlight supernatural intervention and its limits.

• The Lord’s Animals and the Devil’s

  The story explains the physical traits of goats (bitten tails, devilish eyes) as the result of a supernatural contest between the Lord and the Devil.

• The Beam

  The enchanter uses magic to deceive the crowd, and the girl's clover grants her insight to see through the illusion.

• A Riddling Tale

  The transformation of women into flowers and the magical condition for release.

• The Glass Coffin

  The stag, glass coffin, magical smoke that turns into people, and the enchanted castle all involve supernatural elements.

• The Griffin

  The little iron man's enchantments, the Griffin's prophetic knowledge, and the magical whistle that controls hares all underscore the supernatural elements.

• The Owl

  The owl is perceived as a monstrous, supernatural creature capable of devouring a man, leading to mass hysteria.

• The Moon

  The moon is a magical object that can be stolen, buried, and later revived in the underworld, with Saint Peter intervening from heaven.

• The Goose-Girl at the Well

  The old woman's magical abilities, the gift of weeping pearls, and the transformation of the hut into a palace all involve supernatural elements.

• The Nix of the Millpond

  The nix, the wise old woman, and the magical golden objects (comb, flute, spinning-wheel) drive the plot and enable the rescue.

• The Spindle, the Shuttle, and the Needle

  The spindle, shuttle, and needle come to life and perform magical tasks to guide the prince to the maiden and adorn her home.

• The Drummer

  The wishing-ring enables the princess to create dresses and the maiden to complete impossible tasks, driving the plot.

• The Crystal Ball

  The enchantress's magic, the wishing-cap, the fiery bird, and the crystal ball are central to the plot.

• Children's Legends

  Supernatural elements, such as divine figures and magical events, are used to convey moral lessons.

• The Rose

  A mysterious child appears in the forest, helps gather wood, gives a rose, and promises to return when it blooms—an event tied to the girl's peaceful death.

• Our Lady's Little Glass

  Our Lady's miraculous intervention frees the cart instantly after drinking the wine.

• The Hazel-Branch

  The hazel-branch is endowed with protective properties against snakes, reflecting a supernatural or magical folk belief.