God's Food
by Brothers Grimm · from Household Tales
Original Story
God's food
A fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm
There were once upon a time two sisters, one of whom had no children and was rich, and the other had five and was a widow, and so poor that she no longer had food enough to satisfy herself and her children. In her need, therefore, she went to her sister, and said, "My children and I are suffering the greatest hunger; thou art rich, give me a mouthful of bread." The very rich sister was as hard as a stone, and said, "I myself have nothing in the house," and drove away the poor creature with harsh words. After some time the husband of the rich sister came home, and was just going to cut himself a piece of bread, but when he made the first cut into the loaf, out flowed red blood. When the woman saw that she was terrified and told him what had occurred. He hurried away to help the widow and her children, but when he entered her room, he found her praying. She had her two youngest children in her arms, and the three eldest were lying dead. He offered her food, but she answered, "For earthly food have we no longer any desire. God has already satisfied the hunger of three of us, and he will hearken to our supplications likewise." Scarcely had she uttered these words than the two little ones drew their last breath, whereupon her heart broke, and she sank down dead.
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Story DNA
Moral
Those who deny help to the needy will face divine retribution, and God provides for the suffering, even if it means death.
Plot Summary
A rich, childless sister cruelly denies bread to her starving, widowed sister and her five children. Later, the rich sister's husband cuts a loaf of bread, and it bleeds, revealing her sin. He rushes to help, but finds the widow praying, with three children already dead. She refuses his food, stating God has provided, and then her remaining two children and she herself die, her heart broken.
Themes
Emotional Arc
desperation to divine intervention (through death)
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Reflects a societal value system where charity to the poor was a moral imperative, and divine intervention was a common narrative device for justice.
Plot Beats (12)
- A rich, childless sister and a poor, widowed sister with five children are introduced.
- The poor widow and her children suffer extreme hunger.
- The widow approaches her rich sister for a mouthful of bread.
- The rich sister cruelly refuses, claiming to have nothing and driving her away.
- The rich sister's husband returns home and tries to cut a loaf of bread.
- Red blood flows from the bread when he cuts it.
- The terrified rich sister confesses her refusal to her husband.
- The husband rushes to the widow's home to offer help.
- He finds the widow praying, holding her two youngest children, with the three eldest already dead.
- The widow refuses his offer of food, stating God has already satisfied the hunger of three and will do so for the rest.
- The two remaining children draw their last breath.
- The widow's heart breaks, and she also dies.
Characters
Rich Sister
Not described, but implied to be well-fed
Attire: Fine linen dress, jewelry
Greedy, callous
Poor Widow
Thin, gaunt from hunger
Attire: Ragged, patched dress
Desperate, pious
Rich Sister's Husband
Not described
Attire: Simple tunic and trousers
Remorseful, helpful
Locations
Rich Sister's House
A house where there is supposedly no food, despite the sister being rich.
Mood: Cold, unwelcoming, opulent but miserly
The husband cuts the loaf of bread and it bleeds; the rich sister refuses to help her poor sister.
Poor Widow's Room
A sparse room where the widow and her children are starving.
Mood: Desperate, prayerful, tragic
The widow prays for death; the children die; the widow dies.