The Lord's animals and the Devil's
by Brothers Grimm
Why Goats Have Short Tails
Long, long ago, God was busy. He made big ones and small ones. He made fast ones and slow ones. But he did not make the goat. He made a big grey wolf. The wolf was his helper.
Now, the Trickster was grumpy. He wanted to make things too. So he made goats. He gave them long, long tails. "Ha!" said the Trickster. "My goats are the best!"
But oh no! The goats went for a walk. Their long tails got stuck. Stuck on a bush. Stuck on a fence. Stuck on a tree! The Trickster had to pull hard. He pulled tails free all day.
The Trickster was so mad. He stamped his feet. He snapped his fingers. POP! All the long tails got short. Now the goats had short tails.
Then the goats ran to eat. They ate the flowers. Munch munch munch. They ate the plants. Munch munch munch. "Oh dear," said God. He called the wolf. The wolf ran at the goats. The goats ran away fast!
The Trickster came to God. He was very upset. "Your wolf chased my goats!" He stamped his foot. "Not fair! Not fair!"
"Give me a gift!" he said. "It is not fair!"
God smiled. "I will give you a gift." "But first, all oak leaves must fall." "Each last leaf must fall."
Autumn came. The leaves fell down. The Trickster ran back. "The leaves are gone!" he said. "Give me my gift!"
But God pointed far away. "Look," he said. "That oak still has green leaves."
So the Trickster ran to find it. He looked and looked and looked. He looked for a long time.
And when he came back... It was spring! All the trees had new leaves. No gift for the Trickster! He stamped his feet. God smiled.
The Trickster was so grumpy. He looked at the goats. He waved his hands. SNAP! Now all goats had funny eyes. The eyes looked just like his!
And THAT is why! Goats have short tails. And funny eyes too! Now you know!
Original Story
The Lord's animals and the Devil's A fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm The Lord God had created all animals, and had chosen out the wolf to be his dog, but he had forgotten the goat. Then the Devil made ready and began to create also, and created goats with fine long tails. Now when they went to pasture, they generally remained caught in the hedges by their tails, then the Devil had to go there and disentangle them, with a great deal of trouble. This enraged him at last, and he went and bit off the tail of every goat, as may be seen to this day by the stump. Then he let them go to pasture alone, but it came to pass that the Lord God perceived how at one time they gnawed away at a fruitful tree, at another injured the noble vines, or destroyed other tender plants. This distressed him, so that in his goodness and mercy he summoned his wolves, who soon tore in pieces the goats that went there. When the devil observed this, he went before the Lord and said, "Thy creatures have destroyed mine." The Lord answered, "Why didst thou create things to do harm?" The Devil said, "I was compelled to do it: inasmuch as my thoughts run on evil, what I create can have no other nature, and thou must pay me heavy damages." - "I will pay thee as soon as the oak leaves fall; come then, thy money will then be ready counted out." When the oak-leaves had fallen, the Devil came and demanded what was due to him. But the Lord said, "In the church of Constantinople stands a tall oak-tree which still has all its leaves." With raging and curses, the Devil departed, and went to seek the oak, wandered in the wilderness for six months before he found it, and when he returned, all the oaks had in the meantime covered themselves again with green leaves. Then he had to forfeit his indemnity, and in his rage he put out the eyes of all the remaining goats, and put his own in instead. This is why all goats have devil's eyes, and their tails bitten off, and why he likes to assume their shape. * * * * *
Moral of the Story
Evil deeds and creations ultimately lead to trouble and can be outsmarted by good.
Characters
The Lord God ★ protagonist
Not explicitly described, but implied to be a powerful, benevolent, and wise creator.
Attire: Not explicitly described, but culturally implied to be majestic and simple, perhaps white robes.
Benevolent, merciful, wise, just, creator.
The Devil ⚔ antagonist
Not explicitly described, but associated with evil and rage. Later puts his own eyes into goats.
Attire: Not explicitly described, but culturally implied to be dark or fiery.
Malicious, cunning, enraged, destructive, vengeful.
The Wolf ◆ supporting
A predatory animal, chosen by the Lord God as his dog.
Attire: Natural fur coat.
Obedient (to the Lord God), predatory, effective.
The Goat ○ minor
Created with long tails, later had their tails bitten off. Described as gnawing at trees, vines, and plants. Later, all goats have 'devil's eyes'.
Attire: Natural fur coat.
Destructive (to plants), prone to getting caught, later associated with the Devil.
Locations
Pasture with Hedges
A grazing area where goats with long tails frequently get caught in hedges.
Mood: initially troublesome, then destructive
The Devil's goats get their tails caught, leading to the Devil biting them off. Later, the goats destroy vegetation, prompting the Lord to send wolves.
The Lord's Presence/Heaven
An unspecified, divine location where the Lord God resides and interacts with the Devil.
Mood: divine, just, authoritative
The Devil complains to the Lord about his creatures being destroyed, and the Lord sets the condition for payment.
Church of Constantinople
A specific, grand location where a tall oak-tree stands, miraculously retaining its leaves.
Mood: magical, frustrating for the Devil
The Lord uses this location to trick the Devil out of his payment, claiming an oak there still has leaves.
Wilderness
A vast, untamed area where the Devil wanders for six months in search of the miraculous oak.
Mood: desolate, arduous, frustrating
The Devil's fruitless search for the oak in Constantinople, leading to him missing his payment deadline.
Story DNA
Moral
Evil deeds and creations ultimately lead to trouble and can be outsmarted by good.
Plot Summary
The Lord God creates animals, but the Devil creates goats with inconveniently long tails, which he eventually bites off in frustration. When these goats destroy plants, the Lord sends wolves to kill them. The Devil demands compensation for his lost creatures, but the Lord tricks him by promising payment only when all oak leaves fall, knowing one specific oak will retain its leaves. Outsmarted and enraged after a futile search, the Devil replaces the remaining goats' eyes with his own, explaining their distinctive appearance and his affinity for them.
Themes
Emotional Arc
conflict to resolution (with lingering consequences)
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Grimm's fairy tales often collected existing oral traditions, reflecting common European beliefs about good, evil, and natural phenomena.
Plot Beats (15)
- The Lord God creates animals, making the wolf his dog, but forgets the goat.
- The Devil creates goats with long tails.
- The goats' long tails get caught in hedges, forcing the Devil to disentangle them.
- Enraged, the Devil bites off all the goats' tails.
- The Lord God sees the goats destroying plants and sends wolves to kill them.
- The Devil complains to the Lord that his creatures were destroyed.
- The Lord questions the Devil's destructive creations.
- The Devil demands damages, claiming his evil nature compels his creations.
- The Lord promises payment when all oak leaves fall.
- The Devil returns when oak leaves have fallen, demanding payment.
- The Lord reveals a specific oak in Constantinople still has leaves, thus nullifying the condition.
- The Devil, furious, searches for the oak for six months.
- Upon his return, all oaks have regrown their leaves, and he loses his indemnity.
- In a final rage, the Devil puts out the remaining goats' eyes and replaces them with his own.
- The story concludes by explaining why goats have short tails, 'devil's eyes,' and why the Devil takes their form.
