"The Louse and the Flea" or "Little Louse and Little Flea" (German: Läuschen und Flöhchen) is a German fairy tale collected by the Brothers Grimm, number 30.[1]
| The Louse and the Flea | |
|---|---|
| Folk tale | |
| Name | The Louse and the Flea |
| Also known as | Little Louse and Little Flea |
| Aarne–Thompson grouping | ATU 2022 (An Animal Mourns the Death of a Spouse) |
| Country | Germany |
| Published in | Grimms' Fairy Tales |
It is Aarne-Thompson type 2022, An Animal Mourns the Death of a Spouse,[2] and takes the form of a chain tale, sometimes known as a cumulative tale. Wilhelm Grimm probably heard the story from Dorothea Catharina Wild in 1808.
Synopsis
editA louse and a flea are married until the louse drowns while brewing. The flea mourns, inspiring a door to ask why and start creaking, which inspires a broom to ask why and start sweeping—through a sequence of objects until a spring overflows at the news and drowns them all.
Variants
editIn some versions the louse and the flea are replaced by a ladybird and a fly.[3]
References
edit- ^ Jacob and Wilheim Grimm, Household Tales, "The Louse and the Flea"
- ^ D.L. Ashliman, "The Grimm Brothers' Children's and Household Tales (Grimms' Fairy Tales)"
- ^ Lily Owens, ed. (1981). The Complete Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales. pp. 129–131. Avenel Books. ISBN 0-517-336316