Going A-travelling
by Brothers Grimm · from Household Tales
Original Story
Going a-travelling
A fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm
There was once a poor woman who had a son, who much wished to travel, but his mother said, "How canst thou travel? We have no money at all for thee to take away with thee." Then said the son, "I will manage very well for myself; I will always say, 'Not much, not much, not much.'"
So he walked for a long time and always said, "Not much, not much, not much." Then he passed by a company of fishermen and said, "God speed you! not much, not much, not much." - "What sayst thou churl, not much?" And when the net was drawn out they had not caught much fish. So one of them fell on the youth with a stick and said, "Hast thou never seen me threshing?" - "What ought I to say, then?" asked the youth. "Thou must say, 'Get it full, get it full.'"
After this he again walked a long time, and said, "Get it full, get it full," until he came to the gallows, where they had got a poor sinner whom they were about to hang. Then said he, "Good morning; get it full, get it full." - "What sayst thou, knave, get it full? Dost thou want to make out that there are still more wicked people in the world is not this enough?" And he again got some blows on his back. "What am I to say, then?" said he. "Thou must say, 'May God have pity on the poor soul.'"
Again the youth walked on for a long while and said, "May God have pity on the poor soul!" Then he came to a pit by which stood a knacker who was cutting up a horse. The youth said, "Good morning; God have pity on the poor soul!" - "What dost thou say, thou ill-tempered knave?" and the knacker gave him such a box on the ear, that he could not see out of his eyes. "What am I to say, then?" - "Thou must say, 'There lies the carrion in the pit!'"
So he walked on, and always said, "There lies the carrion in the pit, there lies the carrion in the pit." And he came to a cart full of people, so he said, "Good morning, there lies the carrion in the pit!" Then the cart pushed him into a hole, and the driver took his whip and cracked it upon the youth, till he was forced to crawl back to his mother, and as long as he lived he never went out a-travelling again.
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Story DNA
Moral
Words have power, and one must learn to speak appropriately for the situation, or suffer the consequences.
Plot Summary
A poor young man, wishing to travel, is given a simple phrase by his mother to get by. He repeatedly uses this phrase, and subsequent phrases taught to him by angry strangers, in entirely inappropriate contexts. Each misstep leads to him being beaten and taught a new phrase. After a final, severe beating for calling a cart full of people 'carrion,' he is forced to return home, having learned a harsh lesson about the importance of speaking appropriately and never travels again.
Themes
Emotional Arc
innocence to suffering
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
The story reflects a pre-industrial society where public corporal punishment was common for perceived offenses or bad luck, and social interactions were often direct and less forgiving of verbal missteps.
Plot Beats (12)
- A poor young man tells his mother he wants to travel despite their lack of money.
- His mother suggests he say 'Not much, not much, not much' to get by.
- He encounters fishermen and uses the phrase, causing them to catch little fish, and is beaten.
- The fisherman teaches him to say 'Get it full, get it full.'
- He encounters a hanging at the gallows and uses the new phrase, implying more people should be hanged, and is beaten again.
- The executioner teaches him to say 'May God have pity on the poor soul.'
- He encounters a knacker cutting up a horse and uses the phrase, implying the horse is a 'poor soul,' and is beaten a third time.
- The knacker teaches him to say 'There lies the carrion in the pit!'
- He encounters a cart full of people and uses the phrase, calling them 'carrion.'
- The people in the cart beat him severely, push him into a hole, and the driver whips him.
- He is forced to crawl back home to his mother.
- He never attempts to travel again for the rest of his life.
Characters
The Youth
Not described, but likely thin and travel-worn after his journey.
Attire: Simple peasant clothing suitable for walking: tunic, breeches, perhaps a worn hat. Likely earth-toned and patched.
Naive, persistent, somewhat foolish.
The Mother
Implied to be poor and careworn.
Attire: Simple, dark-colored peasant dress.
Protective, realistic, resigned.
The Fisherman
Strong, weathered from working outdoors.
Attire: Working clothes, perhaps with fishing nets or gear.
Superstitious, quick-tempered.
The Hangman
Stern, imposing figure.
Attire: Dark clothing, perhaps with a hood.
Irritable, judgmental.
The Knacker
Muscular, covered in grime and blood.
Attire: Bloody apron, working clothes.
Brutal, easily angered.
The Cart Driver
Sturdy, working-class appearance.
Attire: Working clothes, perhaps with a hat.
Impatient, violent.
Locations
Fishermen's Riverbank
A riverbank where fishermen are casting and drawing nets.
Mood: Workmanlike, then hostile
The youth offends the fishermen and is beaten.
Gallows Hill
A hill with a gallows where a man is about to be hanged.
Mood: Grim, somber, judgmental
The youth offends onlookers and is beaten.
Knacker's Pit
A pit where a knacker is cutting up a horse.
Mood: Gruesome, foul, violent
The youth offends the knacker and is beaten.
Road with Cart
A road where a cart full of people is traveling.
Mood: Crowded, chaotic, hostile
The youth offends the cart's occupants and is beaten and thrown into a hole.