The Old Man and His Grandson

by Brothers Grimm · from Household Tales

fairy tale moral tale solemn Ages 5-10 268 words 2 min read
Original Story 268 words · 2 min read

The old man and his grandson

A fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm

There was once a very old man, whose eyes had become dim, his ears dull of hearing, his knees trembled, and when he sat at table he could hardly hold the spoon, and spilt the broth upon the table-cloth or let it run out of his mouth. His son and his son's wife were disgusted at this, so the old grandfather at last had to sit in the corner behind the stove, and they gave him his food in an earthenware bowl, and not even enough of it. And he used to look towards the table with his eyes full of tears. Once, too, his trembling hands could not hold the bowl, and it fell to the ground and broke. The young wife scolded him, but he said nothing and only sighed. Then they bought him a wooden bowl for a few half-pence, out of which he had to eat.

They were once sitting thus when the little grandson of four years old began to gather together some bits of wood upon the ground. "What are you doing there?" asked the father. "I am making a little trough," answered the child, "for father and mother to eat out of when I am big."

The man and his wife looked at each other for a while, and presently began to cry. Then they took the old grandfather to the table, and henceforth always let him eat with them, and likewise said nothing if he did spill a little of anything.

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Story DNA

Moral

Treat your elders with kindness and respect, for how you treat them may be how your children learn to treat you.

Plot Summary

An old, frail man is mistreated by his son and daughter-in-law, who make him eat alone from a cheap wooden bowl due to his infirmities. Their young grandson observes this and begins to build a small wooden trough, explaining it's for his parents when they grow old. This innocent act of mirroring causes the son and daughter-in-law to realize the cruelty of their actions, leading them to repent and treat the old man with kindness and respect once more.

Themes

filial pietyempathythe cycle of liferespect for elders

Emotional Arc

suffering to triumph

Writing Style

Voice: third person omniscient
Pacing: moderate
Descriptive: sparse
Techniques: direct moral instruction

Narrative Elements

Conflict: person vs person
Ending: moral justice
earthenware bowl (fragility, dignity)wooden bowl (dehumanization, cheapness)the little trough (mirroring, consequence)

Cultural Context

Origin: German
Era: timeless fairy tale

Reflects traditional European values regarding family duty and the care of the elderly, often used as a cautionary tale for children and adults alike.

Plot Beats (12)

  1. An old man, frail and messy due to age, lives with his son and daughter-in-law.
  2. The son and daughter-in-law are disgusted by his infirmities and make him eat alone in the corner from an earthenware bowl.
  3. The old man often cries and is not given enough food.
  4. One day, his trembling hands cause him to drop and break the earthenware bowl.
  5. The daughter-in-law scolds him, and they replace the bowl with a cheap wooden one.
  6. The four-year-old grandson observes this treatment.
  7. The grandson starts gathering wood scraps and building something.
  8. His father asks what he is doing.
  9. The grandson explains he is making a trough for his parents to eat from when they are old.
  10. The parents are struck by the realization of their actions and begin to cry.
  11. They immediately bring the old grandfather back to the main table.
  12. From then on, they treat him with kindness and respect, no longer minding his spills.

Characters

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The Old Grandfather

human elderly male

Eyes dim, ears dull of hearing, knees trembled, hands trembled, spilt broth

Attire: Simple, worn clothing typical of a peasant or working-class elder in 19th-century Germany, likely a tunic or shirt and trousers.

Trembling hands holding a wooden bowl

Meek, sorrowful, enduring

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The Son

human adult male

No specific description, implied to be able-bodied and of working age.

Attire: Practical, sturdy clothing suitable for a working man of the 19th century, such as a simple shirt, waistcoat, and trousers.

A stern, unyielding expression

Harsh, unfeeling (initially), remorseful

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The Son's Wife

human adult female

No specific description, implied to be able-bodied and of working age.

Attire: Modest, practical dress typical of a 19th-century German peasant woman, perhaps a long skirt, blouse, and apron.

A scolding finger pointed at the grandfather

Harsh, scolding, remorseful

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The Little Grandson

human child male

Four years old, small stature.

Attire: Simple, comfortable child's clothing of the period, such as a tunic or smock and short trousers.

A small child carving a wooden trough from bits of wood

Observant, innocent, thoughtful

Locations

The dining table

indoor Implied indoor comfort, no specific weather.

A table where the family eats, often with spilled broth on the tablecloth.

Mood: Initially tense and disgusted, later remorseful and inclusive.

The old man's struggles with eating, the family's disgust, and later their change of heart.

table tablecloth spoons broth earthenware bowl wooden bowl

Corner behind the stove

indoor Implied indoor warmth from the stove, no specific weather.

A secluded, less prominent corner of the room, behind a stove.

Mood: Lonely, sorrowful, isolated, humiliating.

The old man is forced to eat separately and in isolation.

stove corner earthenware bowl wooden bowl

The ground near the family

indoor Implied indoor setting, no specific weather.

The floor area where the grandson plays, gathering bits of wood.

Mood: Innocent, observant, reflective.

The grandson's innocent act of making a trough, which leads to the family's realization.

bits of wood child's hands