The Peasant and the Devil
by Brothers Grimm · from Household Tales
Original Story
The peasant and the devil
A fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm
There was once on a time a far-sighted, crafty peasant whose tricks were much talked about. The best story is, however, how he once got hold of the Devil, and made a fool of him. The peasant had one day been working in his field, and as twilight had set in, was making ready for the journey home, when he saw a heap of burning coals in the middle of his field, and when, full of astonishment, he went up to it, a little black devil was sitting on the live coals. "Thou dost indeed sit upon a treasure!" said the peasant. "Yes, in truth," replied the Devil, "on a treasure which contains more gold and silver than thou hast ever seen in thy life!" - "The treasure lies in my field and belongs to me," said the peasant. "It is thine," answered the Devil, "if thou wilt for two years give me the half of everything thy field produces. Money I have enough of, but I have a desire for the fruits of the earth." The peasant agreed to the bargain. "In order, however, that no dispute may arise about the division," said he, "everything that is above ground shall belong to thee, and what is under the earth to me." The Devil was quite satisfied with that, but the cunning peasant had sown turnips.
Now when the time for harvest came, the Devil appeared and wanted to take away his crop; but he found nothing but the yellow withered leaves, while the peasant, full of delight, was digging up his turnips. "Thou hast had the best of it for once," said the Devil, "but the next time that won't do. What grows above ground shall be thine, and what is under it, mine." - "I am willing," replied the peasant; but when the time came to sow, he did not again sow turnips, but wheat. The grain became ripe, and the peasant went into the field and cut the full stalks down to the ground. When the Devil came, he found nothing but the stubble, and went away in a fury down into a cleft in the rocks. "That is the way to cheat the Devil," said the peasant, and went and fetched away the treasure.
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Story DNA
Moral
Cleverness and foresight can outwit even the most powerful adversaries.
Plot Summary
A famously cunning peasant discovers a devil guarding a treasure in his field. They strike a bargain: the peasant will give the Devil half of his field's produce for two years. The peasant cleverly manipulates the terms, first sowing turnips (giving the Devil only leaves), then wheat (giving the Devil only stubble). Outsmarted twice, the enraged Devil retreats, and the peasant claims the treasure.
Themes
Emotional Arc
tension to triumph
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Grimm's fairy tales often reflect a pre-industrial, agrarian society where cleverness could be a survival tool against powerful forces, both mundane and supernatural.
Plot Beats (12)
- A famously crafty peasant is introduced.
- The peasant finds a devil sitting on a treasure in his field at twilight.
- The Devil claims the treasure is his but offers it if the peasant gives him half of the field's produce for two years.
- The peasant agrees but proposes a division: above ground for the Devil, below ground for him.
- The peasant sows turnips.
- At harvest, the Devil finds only withered leaves, while the peasant happily digs up his turnips.
- The Devil, realizing he was tricked, changes the terms for the next year: below ground for him, above ground for the peasant.
- The peasant agrees and sows wheat.
- At harvest, the peasant cuts the wheat stalks, taking the valuable grain.
- The Devil arrives to find only stubble, having been tricked a second time.
- The Devil, enraged, retreats into a cleft in the rocks.
- The peasant claims the treasure, having successfully outsmarted the Devil.
Characters
The Peasant
None explicitly mentioned, but implied to be strong enough for farm work.
Attire: Simple, practical clothing suitable for farm labor in a historical European setting (e.g., linen shirt, breeches, sturdy shoes).
Crafty, far-sighted, intelligent, cunning.
The Devil
A little black devil, initially seen sitting on live coals.
Attire: None explicitly mentioned, but implied to be part of his fiery, demonic nature.
Gullible, easily outsmarted, greedy (for earthly fruits), furious when tricked.
Locations
Peasant's Field
A cultivated field belonging to the peasant, where he works and encounters the Devil. Initially, it's a regular field, later it contains burning coals, then turnips, and finally wheat.
Mood: Initially mundane, then mysterious and opportunistic, later a site of cunning and triumph.
The peasant first encounters the Devil and makes the bargain; the two harvests occur here.
Cleft in the Rocks
A natural opening in the rocks, serving as the Devil's angry exit point.
Mood: Angry, frustrated, a place of retreat for the defeated Devil.
The Devil, defeated and furious, retreats into this cleft.