Fair Katrinelje and Pif-Paf-Poltrie
by Brothers Grimm
Pif-Paf-Poltrie
Once there was a man. His name was Pif-Paf-Poltrie. He loved a girl. Her name was Katrinelje. She had a big smile. He wanted to marry her.
So he went to her Father. Father was sitting by the fire. "Can I marry Katrinelje?" he asked.
"Who are you?" said Father.
"I am Pif-Paf-Poltrie," he said.
"Yes, you can," said Father. "But you must ask her Mother."
So Pif-Paf-Poltrie went to the barn. Mother was milking the cow. The cow said moo. "Can I marry Katrinelje?" he asked.
"Who are you?" said Mother.
"I am Pif-Paf-Poltrie," he said.
"Yes, you can," said Mother. "But you must ask her Brother."
So Pif-Paf-Poltrie went to the yard. Brother was cutting wood. Chop, chop, chop! "Can I marry Katrinelje?" he asked.
"Who are you?" said Brother.
"I am Pif-Paf-Poltrie," he said.
"Yes, you can," said Brother. "But you must ask her Sister."
So Pif-Paf-Poltrie went to the garden. Sister was cutting cabbages. Chop, chop, chop! "Can I marry Katrinelje?" he asked.
"Who are you?" said Sister.
"I am Pif-Paf-Poltrie," he said.
"Yes, you can," said Sister. "But you must ask Katrinelje."
So Pif-Paf-Poltrie went to the room. Katrinelje was counting her pennies. One, two, three, four, five. "Will you marry me?" he asked.
Katrinelje looked up. She smiled. "Yes!" she said. "They all said yes. And I say yes too!"
"What can you bring?" asked Pif-Paf-Poltrie.
Katrinelje held up her hands. "I have a spoon," she said. "And a fork. And a little pot. That is good, is it not?"
"That is very good," he said.
"What is your job?" asked Katrinelje. "Are you a farmer?"
"No. Something better," he said.
"Are you a baker?"
"No. Something better."
"Are you a builder?"
"No. Something better!"
"Then what do you do?" she asked.
"I make brooms!" said Pif-Paf-Poltrie. He stood up tall. He was very proud. "Is that not a good job?"
Katrinelje smiled a big smile. "That is a very good job!"
She took his hand. He took her hand. And they were both very happy.
Original Story
Fair Katrinelje and Pif-Paf-Poltrie A fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm "Good-day, Father Hollenthe." - "Many thanks, Pif-paf-poltrie." - "May I be allowed to have your daughter?" - "Oh, yes, if Mother Malcho (Milch-cow), Brother High-and-Mighty, Sister K"setraut, and fair Katrinelje are willing, you can have her." "Where is Mother Malcho, then?" - "She is in the cow-house, milking the cow." "Good-day, Mother Malcho." - "Many thanks, Pif-paf-poltrie." - "May I be allowed to have your daughter?" - "Oh, yes, if Father Hollenthe, Brother High-and-Mighty, Sister K"setraut, and fair Katrinelje are willing, you can have her." - "Where is Brother High-and-Mighty, then?" - "He is in the room chopping some wood." - "Good-day, Brother High-and-Mighty." - "Many thanks, Pif-paf-poltrie." - "May I be allowed to have your sister?" - "Oh, yes, if Father Hollenthe, Mother Malcho, Sister K"setraut, and fair Katrinelje are willing, you can have her." - "Where is Sister K"setraut, then?" - "She is in the garden cutting cabbages." - "Good-day, sister K"setraut." - "Many thanks, Pif-paf-poltrie." - "May I be allowed to have your sister?" - "Oh, yes, if Father Hollenthe, Mother Malcho, Brother High-and-Mighty, and fair Katrinelje are willing, you may have her." - "Where is fair Katrinelje, then?" - "She is in the room counting out her farthings." - "Good day, fair Katrinelje." - "Many thanks, Pif-paf-poltrie." - "Wilt thou be my bride?" - "Oh, yes, if Father Hollenthe, Mother Malcho, Brother High-and-Mighty, and Sister K"setraut are willing, I am ready." "Fair Katrinelje, how much dowry do hast thou?" - "Fourteen farthings in ready money, three and a half groschen owing to me, half a pound of dried apples, a handful of fried bread, and a handful of spices. And many other things are mine, Have I not a dowry fine? "Pif-paf-poltrie, what is thy trade? Art thou a tailor?" - "Something better." - "A shoemaker?" - "Something better." - "A husbandman?" - "Something better." - "A joiner?" - "Something better." - "A smith?" - "Something better." - "A miller?" - "Something better." - "Perhaps a broom-maker?" - "Yes, that's what I am, is it not a fine trade?" * * * * *
Characters
Fair Katrinelje ★ protagonist
Fair
Attire: Simple peasant dress, apron, possibly a headscarf
Agreeable, compliant
Pif-Paf-Poltrie ★ protagonist
Not described
Attire: Tradesman's clothing, sturdy and practical
Persistent, humorous
Father Hollenthe ◆ supporting
Not described
Attire: Simple peasant clothing
Traditional, values family consent
Mother Malcho ◆ supporting
Not described
Attire: Peasant dress, apron
Traditional, values family consent
Brother High-and-Mighty ◆ supporting
Strong
Attire: Working clothes, sturdy and practical
Traditional, values family consent
Sister K"setraut ◆ supporting
Not described
Attire: Peasant dress, apron
Traditional, values family consent
Locations
Cow-house
A place where cows are kept, presumably with the sounds and smells of livestock and fresh milk.
Mood: Agricultural, domestic, perhaps a bit smelly.
Pif-paf-poltrie asks Mother Malcho for Katrinelje's hand in marriage.
Wood-chopping room
A room where wood is chopped, likely containing wood scraps and the scent of freshly cut wood.
Mood: Industrious, perhaps a bit dusty.
Pif-paf-poltrie asks Brother High-and-Mighty for Katrinelje's hand in marriage.
Cabbage garden
A garden filled with rows of cabbages.
Mood: Fresh, earthy, productive.
Pif-paf-poltrie asks Sister K"setraut for Katrinelje's hand in marriage.
Coin-counting room
A room where Katrinelje counts her farthings, suggesting a simple, perhaps humble, dwelling.
Mood: Quiet, domestic, perhaps a bit frugal.
Pif-paf-poltrie asks Katrinelje to be his bride.
Story DNA
Plot Summary
Pif-paf-poltrie seeks to marry fair Katrinelje, systematically asking each of her family members – Father Hollenthe, Mother Malcho, Brother High-and-Mighty, and Sister K'setraut – for their permission. Each family member grants conditional consent, directing him to the next. Finally, Katrinelje herself agrees, also conditionally. They then discuss her small dowry and his humble profession as a broom-maker, which he proudly defends, implying their union will proceed despite their modest circumstances.
Themes
Emotional Arc
anticipation to acceptance
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
The names 'Hollenthe' (Holländer - Dutchman), 'Malcho' (Milchkuh - milk cow), and 'K'setraut' (Käsetraut - cheese Gertrude) are playful, possibly regional, and suggest a rural, humble setting. The value of farthings and groschen indicates a pre-modern European economy.
Plot Beats (13)
- Pif-paf-poltrie asks Father Hollenthe for his daughter's hand in marriage.
- Father Hollenthe grants permission, conditional on the agreement of Mother Malcho, Brother High-and-Mighty, Sister K'setraut, and fair Katrinelje.
- Pif-paf-poltrie finds Mother Malcho milking the cow and asks her.
- Mother Malcho grants permission, conditional on the agreement of the other family members.
- Pif-paf-poltrie finds Brother High-and-Mighty chopping wood and asks him.
- Brother High-and-Mighty grants permission, conditional on the agreement of the other family members.
- Pif-paf-poltrie finds Sister K'setraut cutting cabbages and asks her.
- Sister K'setraut grants permission, conditional on the agreement of the other family members.
- Pif-paf-poltrie finds fair Katrinelje counting farthings and asks her to be his bride.
- Fair Katrinelje grants permission, conditional on the agreement of the other family members.
- Pif-paf-poltrie asks Katrinelje about her dowry, which she proudly lists as meager but sufficient.
- Katrinelje asks Pif-paf-poltrie about his trade, listing several respectable professions.
- Pif-paf-poltrie reveals he is a broom-maker, asking if it is not a fine trade.
