Virtue Rewarded and Vice Punished

Where it surfaces

• The Frog-King, or Iron Henry

  The princess's initial selfishness is corrected, and her eventual obedience leads to a happy marriage.

• Our Lady's Child

  The girl's initial disobedience and repeated lies result in exile, loss of speech, and the removal of her children; her eventual confession brings forgiveness and restoration.

• The Story of the Youth Who Went Forth to Learn What Fear Was

  The youth's bravery and lack of fear are rewarded with marriage to the princess and a kingdom, while the sexton's deceit leads to his injury.

• The Wolf and the Seven Little Kids

  The wolf's deceit and greed lead to his drowning, while the mother goat's cleverness and the kids' obedience result in their rescue and joyful reunion.

• Faithful John

  Faithful John's selfless acts are ultimately rewarded when he is revived, while the king and queen's willingness to sacrifice their sons for John's fidelity is also rewarded.

• The Good Bargain

  The peasant, though simple, is rewarded for his honesty and wit, while the Jew's deceit is exposed and punished.

• The Wonderful Musician

  The musician's deceptive treatment of the animals leads to their vengeful pursuit, but the honest woodcutter's intervention saves him, suggesting a reward for finding true companionship.

• The Twelve Brothers

  The sister's selfless silence is rewarded with her brothers' freedom and her own vindication, while the wicked stepmother is executed.

• The Pack of Ragamuffins

  The host's greed and initial reluctance to host the ragamuffins is punished by the pranks left behind.

• The Three Little Men in the Wood

  The kind stepdaughter is rewarded with beauty, gold, and a royal marriage, while the rude stepsister and wicked stepmother are cursed and ultimately killed.

• The Three Spinners

  The girl's laziness is hidden, but she ultimately avoids punishment and gains a husband through deception and the help of the spinners.

• Hänsel and Grethel

  The children's cleverness and goodness are rewarded with escape and wealth, while the witch and stepmother meet their demise.

• The Three Snake-Leaves

  The faithful servant and the youth are rewarded with life and justice, while the unfaithful wife and skipper are drowned.

• The White Snake

  The servant's kindness to animals is repaid with help that enables him to complete the tasks and win the princess, while the proud princess is humbled and ultimately rewarded with love.

• The Fisherman and His Wife

  The fisherman's initial contentment is contrasted with his wife's greed, which is ultimately punished.

• Cinderella

  Cinderella's piety and goodness are rewarded with marriage to the prince, while her stepsisters are blinded for their cruelty and deceit.

• The Riddle

  The honest servant and prince survive while the witch, murderers, and cheating princess face consequences.

• Mother Holle

  The industrious stepdaughter is rewarded with gold, while the lazy stepsister is punished with pitch, illustrating the moral that hard work leads to reward and laziness to ruin.

• Little Redcap

  Little Redcap's disobedience leads to danger, but her rescue and the wolf's death reinforce the moral that good behavior is rewarded and evil is punished.

• The Bremen Town-Musicians

  The animals' cleverness and cooperation are rewarded with a safe home, while the robbers' greed and cruelty are punished by being driven away.

• The Singing Bone

  The innocent younger brother is honored posthumously, while the wicked elder is executed.

• The Girl Without Hands

  The pious girl is rewarded with restoration and happiness, while the devil is defeated and the miller's greed leads to loss.

• Clever Hans

  Hans's foolishness is not punished but rather leads to a marriage, subverting the typical moral lesson.

• The Three Languages

  The youth's kindness and courage in facing the dogs are rewarded with treasure and adoption, while the father's harshness is contrasted.

• Clever Elsie

  Elsie's excessive and impractical cleverness is punished by her eventual confusion and exile, while Hans's practical trickery is rewarded with a wife.

• The Tailor in Heaven

  The tailor's dishonest nature and presumptuous judgment lead to his expulsion from heaven, reinforcing that only God may judge.

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

  The honest sons are rewarded with magical gifts, while the thieving innkeeper is beaten by the cudgel and forced to return what he stole.

• The Elves

  The shoemaker's kindness and the servant girl's helpfulness are rewarded with prosperity and gold, while the elves' departure after being repaid shows a balanced exchange.

• First Story

  The shoemaker's honest work and gratitude are rewarded with wealth and continued prosperity.

• The Robber Bridegroom

  The maiden's caution and virtue lead to her escape and the exposure of the murderous bridegroom, who is ultimately executed.

• Herr Korbes

  Herr Korbes, implied to be wicked, is punished by the collective action of the objects and animals.

• Frau Trude

  The girl's disobedience and curiosity lead to her horrific punishment, reinforcing the moral that wicked behavior is met with dire consequences.

• Fitcher's Bird

  The clever and obedient third sister is rewarded with survival and freedom, while the curious first two sisters are punished with death, and the wicked wizard is punished with burning.

• The Juniper-Tree

  Marlinchen's grief and loyalty are rewarded with red shoes, while the stepmother is crushed by a millstone for her evil deeds.

• Old Sultan

  Old Sultan's loyalty and faithfulness are rewarded with a comfortable life, while the wolf's treachery is punished with a beating and humiliation.

• The Six Swans

  The virtuous sister's silence and hard work free her brothers and lead to her vindication, while the wicked stepmother and mother are executed.

• Little Snow-White

  Snow-White's kindness and innocence are rewarded with marriage and happiness, while the stepmother's cruelty ends in a gruesome death.

• Sweetheart Roland

  The virtuous stepdaughter is ultimately rewarded with marriage to Roland, while the wicked stepmother and her envious daughter meet violent ends.

• The Golden Bird

  The youth's virtue is rewarded with marriage and inheritance, while his wicked brothers are executed.

• The Dog and the Sparrow

  The dog's loyalty and the sparrow's friendship are contrasted with the wagoner's cruelty; the wagoner's vice leads to his destruction.

• Frederick and Catherine

  Despite Catherine's foolishness, the couple ultimately recovers their gold, suggesting a forgiving outcome rather than strict punishment.

• The Little Peasant

  The cunning peasant is rewarded with wealth, while the greedy and dishonest villagers are punished with death.

• The Queen Bee

  Simpleton's compassion for the ants, ducks, and bees leads to their aid in completing the tasks, while his brothers' cruelty results in their petrification.

• The Three Feathers

  Simpleton's humility and kindness are rewarded with magical help and the kingdom, while his arrogant brothers are punished for their deceit and laziness.

• The Golden Goose

  Dummling's kindness and willingness to share are rewarded with the golden goose and eventual marriage to the princess, while his selfish brothers are punished with injury.

• The Three Sons of Fortune

  The sons' cleverness in finding markets for their gifts is rewarded with wealth, while the cat's perceived threat leads to destruction.

• How Six Men Got on in the World

  The clever and loyal companions outwit the treacherous King, who is punished by losing his treasure.

• The Wolf and the Man

  The wolf's arrogance and aggression are punished by the hunter's superior strength and weapons.

• The Wolf and the Fox

  The fox's cleverness and restraint allow him to escape, while the wolf's gluttony and vice are punished with death.

• The Fox and His Cousin

  The she-wolf's gullibility leads to her suffering, while the fox's deceit goes unpunished, subverting the typical moral.

• The Fox and the Cat

  The cat's modesty and practical skill (virtue) lead to her survival, while the fox's arrogance and boastfulness (vice) result in his death.

• The Pink

  The virtuous queen and maiden are ultimately rewarded, while the wicked cook is punished by being torn apart.

• Clever Grethel

  Grethel's gluttony and deceit are not punished; instead, she escapes blame by shifting it to the guest, subverting the typical moral outcome.

• The Old Man and His Grandson

  The parents' cruelty is punished by the shame of their son's imitation, and their subsequent repentance restores harmony.

• Brother Lustig

  Brother Lustig's initial generosity is rewarded with gold, but his greed and foolishness lead to his failure in reviving the princess, though he ultimately gains entry to Heaven through trickery.

• Gambling Hansel

  Hansel's vice of gambling is punished by rejection from Heaven and Purgatory, and his eventual destruction, while the Lord and St. Peter represent virtue attempting to restore order.

• Hans in Luck

  Hans's faithful service is rewarded with gold, and his cheerful, uncomplaining nature ultimately leads him to a happy, carefree homecoming.

• The Poor Man and the Rich Man

  The poor couple's kindness is rewarded with lasting blessings, while the rich man's selfishness leads to loss and frustration.

• The Goose-Girl

  The humble princess endures her trials and is ultimately rewarded with marriage and royalty, while the treacherous waiting-maid is executed by her own judgment.

• The Gnome

  The youngest huntsman's bravery and honesty are rewarded with marriage to a princess, while his treacherous brothers are hanged.

• The Peasant's Wise Daughter

  The wise daughter's cleverness and loyalty are rewarded with marriage and reconciliation, while the King's hasty judgment is corrected.

• The Three Little Birds

  The false sisters are burned for their crimes, while the queen is freed and her children are restored to their rightful place.

• The Water of Life

  The humble youngest son is rewarded with success and the princess, while the haughty elder brothers are trapped and later exiled.

• Doctor Knowall

  The dishonest servants are caught and punished, while the clever peasant is rewarded for his accidental success.

• The Spirit in the Bottle

  The boy's diligence and quick thinking are rewarded with a magical gift, while the spirit's murderous intent is thwarted and then redeemed through a fair bargain.

• The Devil's Sooty Brother

  The soldier's obedience and hard work are rewarded with gold and a kingdom, while the thieving innkeeper is forced to return the stolen money and the former officers are punished in hell.

• Bearskin

  The faithful youngest daughter is rewarded with a handsome husband and wealth, while the proud, mocking sisters meet death by suicide, and the Devil claims their souls.

• The Willow-Wren and the Bear

  The bear's arrogance and insults lead to his defeat and forced apology, while the young wrens' demand for respect is ultimately satisfied.

• Sweet Porridge

  The good girl is rewarded with the pot for her kindness, while the mother's ignorance leads to chaos, though not maliciously.

• Wise Folks

  The peasant's cleverness in exploiting the foolishness of others is rewarded with a horse and money, while his wife's stupidity is initially threatened with punishment but ultimately forgiven.

• First Story

  The child's kindness to the snake is rewarded with gifts, but the mother's violent act results in the child's death.

• The Poor Miller's Boy and the Cat

  Hans's faithful service is rewarded with wealth and marriage, while the deceitful apprentices end up with inferior horses and lose the mill.

• The Two Travellers

  The kind tailor is rewarded with marriage and success, while the cruel shoemaker is blinded and dies.

• Hans the Hedgehog

  The second king's daughter, who honors her promise, is rewarded with a handsome husband, while the first king's daughter, who is false, is punished and disgraced.

• The Jew Among Thorns

  The honest servant is ultimately rewarded with freedom and the Jew's gold, while the Jew is hanged for his theft and deceit.

• The Skilful Huntsman

  The honest huntsman is rewarded with marriage and a kingdom, while the deceitful captain is torn apart.

• The Cunning Little Tailor

  The cunning little tailor, though lowly, succeeds through cleverness and is rewarded with marriage to the princess, while the envious older tailors fail.

• The Bright Sun Brings It to Light

  The tailor's murderous greed is ultimately punished when his crime is exposed, fulfilling the Jew's prophecy.

• The Blue Light

  The faithful soldier, though wronged, ultimately triumphs and is rewarded with a kingdom and princess, while the witch, the false judge, and the unjust king are punished.

• The Wilful Child

  The child's willfulness leads to divine displeasure, illness, and death, and her arm continues to rise from the grave until her mother punishes her with a rod, enforcing obedience even after death.

• The Three Army-Surgeons

  The surgeons' deception and the servant's negligence lead to chaotic consequences, but the surgeons ultimately profit through extortion, blurring clear moral outcomes.

• The Seven Swabians

  The Swabians' cowardice and foolishness lead to their drowning, punishing their lack of true courage.

• The Three Apprentices

  The innocent apprentices are saved from execution, while the murderous innkeeper is executed for his crime, illustrating the moral that evil deeds are punished and innocence protected.

• The King's Son Who Feared Nothing

  The king's son's courage and faithfulness are rewarded with sight, strength, and marriage, while the giant's treachery leads to his death.

• Donkey Cabbages

  The huntsman's initial kindness to the old crone is rewarded with magical gifts, while the witch's greed and treachery lead to her death as a donkey.

• The Three Brothers

  The clever and skilled son is rewarded with the house, while the brothers accept the outcome without envy, leading to a harmonious life.

• Ferdinand the Faithful

  Ferdinand the Faithful's honesty and kindness (helping the fish, picking up the pen) are rewarded with magical aid, while Ferdinand the Unfaithful's treachery leads to his downfall.

• The Iron Stove

  The princess's virtue and persistence are rewarded with marriage and happiness, while the false bride is left behind without her clothes.

• The Lazy Spinner

  The lazy wife's vice is not punished; instead, she successfully evades work through deceit, subverting the typical moral outcome.

• The Four Skilful Brothers

  The brothers' diligent learning and cooperative rescue are rewarded with half a kingdom each, while the dragon is killed for its theft.

• One-Eye, Two-Eyes, and Three-Eyes

  Two-Eyes' kindness and patience are rewarded with a happy marriage, while her sisters eventually suffer poverty and repent.

• The Fox and the Horse

  The horse's long service and fidelity are ultimately rewarded when he is taken back, while the master's initial greed and ingratitude are corrected.

• The Shoes That Were Danced to Pieces

  The soldier's cleverness and perseverance are rewarded with marriage and kingship, while the princesses' secret dancing is exposed and the princes are bewitched.

• The Six Servants

  The prince's perseverance and the servants' loyalty are rewarded; the sorceress's malice is thwarted.

• The White Bride and the Black One

  The kind stepdaughter is blessed with beauty and wealth, while the rude mother and daughter are cursed to be black and ugly, and later suffer a gruesome punishment.

• Simeli Mountain

  The poor brother's modest and charitable use of the treasure is rewarded, while the rich brother's envy and greed are punished with death.

• Going A-Travelling

  The youth's foolishness and inability to adapt are punished at every turn, while his eventual return home suggests that staying put is the wiser, safer choice.

• The Ungrateful Son

  The son's ingratitude is punished by the supernatural transformation of the chicken into a toad, forcing him to suffer and feed the creature.

• The Turnip

  The poor brother's honest gift is richly rewarded, while the rich brother's envy and murder plot lead to humiliation and failure.

• The Old Man Made Young Again

  The humble beggar is rewarded with youth, while the smith's presumptuous attempt to replicate the miracle leads to grotesque consequences for his mother-in-law and the birth of apes.

• The Beam

  The enchanter is initially driven away in shame for his deception, but later the girl is humiliated despite her earlier virtue.

• The Old Beggar-Woman

  The boy's failure to help the beggar-woman after initially showing kindness implies a moral lesson about the consequences of neglecting one's duty to assist those in need.

• The Three Sluggards

  In a twist, the vice of laziness is paradoxically rewarded with the kingdom, subverting the typical moral framework.

• The Twelve Idle Servants

  The servants' idleness leads to neglect and accidents, yet they boast without consequence, subverting the typical moral of punishment for vice.

• The Shepherd Boy

  The shepherd boy's wisdom is rewarded with royal adoption, while the king's skepticism is overcome through cleverness.

• The Star-Money

  The girl's extreme generosity and piety are directly rewarded by a miraculous shower of star-money and a new linen shirt.

• The Stolen Farthings

  The child's selfish act of keeping the farthings leads to unrest after death; only when the money is given to the poor does the spirit find peace.

• Odds and Ends

  The lazy bride loses her bridegroom, while the industrious servant is rewarded with marriage.

• The Sparrow and His Four Children

  The youngest son's piety and trust in God are rewarded with safety and his father's approval, contrasting with the worldly dangers faced by his brothers.

• Snow-White and Rose-Red

  The kind and helpful girls are rewarded with marriage to princes, while the greedy dwarf is killed for his wickedness.

• The Glass Coffin

  The virtuous tailor is rewarded with wealth and marriage, while the evil magician is killed.

• Lazy Harry

  The laziness of Harry and Trina leads to the loss of their honey, illustrating the consequences of idleness.

• The Griffin

  Hans's honesty and persistence are rewarded with marriage and kingship, while his deceitful brothers are punished and the greedy king drowns.

• Strong Hans

  Hans's bravery and loyalty are rewarded with marriage and treasure, while the treacherous companions are thrown into the sea.

• The Peasant in Heaven

  The peasant's piety is acknowledged by his entry into heaven, but the story highlights the rarity of rich men being saved, suggesting a critique of worldly wealth.

• The Hut in the Forest

  The youngest daughter's kindness to animals is rewarded with marriage to a prince and a palace, while her selfish sisters are locked in a cellar and later sent to serve a charcoal-burner.

• Sharing Joy and Sorrow

  The tailor's vice of abuse is punished by imprisonment and ultimately by the judges' final judgment.

• The Willow-Wren

  The little bird's cunning is punished by the other birds' hostility and his need to hide, while the owl's negligence leads to its daytime exile.

• The Sole

  The herring's swiftness is rewarded with victory, while the sole's jealousy is punished by a deformed mouth.

• The Bittern and the Hoopoe

  The bittern and hoopoe's lack of moderation in grazing leads to their failure as shepherds, and they are forever cursed to cry out in vain.

• The Moon

  The dead's vice-ridden behavior in the underworld is punished by Saint Peter, who restores order and removes the moon.

• The Duration of Life

  The animals' complaints are heard and their burdens lightened, while man's greed for more years leads to a life of suffering.

• Master Pfriem (Master Cobbler's Awl)

  Master Pfriem's constant fault-finding leads to his expulsion from heaven in his dream, suggesting that such behavior is a vice that is punished.

• The Goose-Girl at the Well

  The princess's honest and humble love (like salt) is rewarded, while the king's hasty anger is punished by regret and loss.

• Eve's Various Children

  The beautiful children are rewarded with high status, while the ugly children are assigned humble labor, though both are blessed.

• The Little Folks’ Presents

  The contented tailor is rewarded with lasting wealth and happiness, while the greedy goldsmith is punished with loss and deformity.

• The Giant and the Tailor

  The tailor's boastfulness and deceit lead to his downfall, as he is tricked and flung away.

• The Poor Boy in the Grave

  The boy's innocent suffering and honesty are not rewarded in life, but the cruel farmer and his wife are punished by losing their home and living in poverty and guilt.

• The True Sweethearts

  The girl's hard work and kindness are rewarded with magical help and a castle, while the stepmother's cruelty leads to her accidental death.

• The Hare and the Hedgehog

  The hedgehog's cleverness and humility are rewarded with victory, while the hare's arrogance leads to his death.

• The Spindle, the Shuttle, and the Needle

  The maiden's industriousness, piety, and kindness are rewarded with prosperity and marriage to the prince, while the rich girl's pride is overlooked.

• The Peasant and the Devil

  The peasant's cleverness and honesty (in keeping his word while exploiting loopholes) is rewarded with the treasure, while the Devil's deceitful nature is punished with loss.

• The Crumbs on the Table

  The little dogs are punished for giving in to temptation and disobeying their mistress, reinforcing the moral that wrongdoing leads to consequences.

• The Sea-Hare

  The youth's kindness to the raven, fish, and fox is rewarded with their help, while the princess's haughtiness is humbled.

• The Master-Thief

  The master-thief's cleverness is rewarded with success, but the count's mercy suggests a lenient view of his vice, complicating the moral.

• The Drummer

  The faithful princess is rewarded with marriage, while the witch is defeated and the false bride is compensated but loses the groom.

• The Ear of Corn

  The woman's wasteful act is punished by the Lord, but the bystanders' plea for mercy leads to a partial restoration of the corn's yield.

• The Grave-Mound

  The poor man's faithfulness and the soldier's courage are rewarded with gold and peace, while the rich man's hard-heartedness leads to a lonely death and a struggle for his soul.

• Old Rinkrank

  The princess's cleverness and patience are rewarded with freedom and marriage, while Old Rinkrank's cruelty leads to his death.

• Maid Maleen

  Maid Maleen's faithfulness and humility are rewarded with marriage and happiness, while the false bride's deceit leads to her execution.

• The Boots of Buffalo-Leather

  The soldier's bravery and cleverness are rewarded by the king, while the robbers are captured and punished.

• Children's Legends

  The legends consistently reward obedient, kind, and faithful children while punishing the disobedient and greedy.

• St. Joseph in the Forest

  The youngest daughter's piety and generosity are rewarded with a heavy bag of money, while the eldest's greed and rudeness result in a grotesque punishment and death.

• Poverty and Humility Lead to Heaven

  The prince's humility and patience are rewarded with heavenly glory, while the ill-natured servant's cruelty is implicitly condemned.

• God’s Food

  The rich sister's cruelty is punished by the miraculous bleeding bread, while the poor widow's faith is rewarded with divine relief from suffering.

• The Three Green Twigs

  The hermit's initial virtue is rewarded with angelic aid, but his sin of judgment brings punishment; his repentance and the robbers' repentance lead to forgiveness.

• Our Lady's Little Glass

  The wagoner's willingness to help is rewarded by the freeing of his cart.

• The Aged Mother

  The vision reveals that the sons' innocent deaths saved them from a life of sin and punishment, rewarding their virtue and sparing them from vice.

• The Heavenly Wedding

  The boy's innocent faith and generosity are rewarded with a place at the eternal wedding, while the priest's request is denied.