The three languages
by Brothers Grimm
The Boy Who Talked to Animals
Once there was a boy. He was not like other kids. He could talk to dogs, birds, and frogs.
The boy had a kind father. His father wanted him to learn. But the boy learned his own way.
His father sent him to a man. The boy learned to talk to dogs! He went to the next man. The boy learned to talk to birds!
He went to one more man. The boy learned to talk to frogs! Each new skill made him glad. He ran home with a grin.
His father did not know why. He said, "Go and find your way." So the boy went down the road.
He walked and walked all day. He saw hills and trees. He saw a big old castle. It stood by dark trees.
In the castle, dogs barked loud. They barked all day and night. They were sad and scared. No one could calm them.
"I can help," said the boy. "I can talk to dogs!" The folk let him go in. He knelt by the dogs.
He spoke to them with care. The dogs told him their fear. They were lost in a spell. They were not mean at all.
The boy sat with them. He heard each sad sound. He spoke soft, kind words. Soon the dogs grew still.
Then the spell was gone. The dogs leapt up with joy. They wagged and ran in rings. The whole hall felt bright.
The castle man said, "Thank you!" "You helped us all today!" The boy gave a shy smile. Then he went on.
He came to a pond. Frogs sat by the reeds. They croaked and splashed in mud. The boy bent down to hear.
"You will lead one day," said frogs. The boy smiled at that. He kept their words in mind. Then he walked on.
At last he reached a city. The folk there felt lost. They had no one to lead. They hoped for a sign.
The boy went to a hall. It was big and still. Then two white birds flew down. They sat on his arms.
All saw the white birds. All grew still at once. "That is the sign!" they cried. "He will lead us well!"
The folk asked him to lead. The boy thought of the frogs. Their words came true that day. He said that he would try.
The white birds stayed near him. They told him what to say. He was calm and kind. He heard each man and child.
He helped with care each day. He made wise, fair rules. The folk were glad he came. His own way was best.
And the boy who talked to dogs, birds, and frogs helped them all. His father smiled. He was proud at last.
Original Story
The three languages A fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm An aged count once lived in Switzerland, who had an only son, but he was stupid, and could learn nothing. Then said the father, "Hark thee, my son, I can get nothing into thy head, let me try as I will. Thou must go from hence, I will give thee into the care of a celebrated master, who shall see what he can do with thee." The youth was sent into a strange town, and remained a whole year with the master. At the end of this time, he came home again, and his father asked, "Now, my son, what hast thou learnt?" - "Father, I have learnt what the dogs say when they bark." - "Lord have mercy on us!" cried the father; "is that all thou hast learnt? I will send thee into another town, to another master." The youth was taken thither, and stayed a year with this master likewise. When he came back the father again asked, "My son, what hast thou learnt?" He answered, "Father, I have learnt what the birds say." Then the father fell into a rage and said, "Oh, thou lost man, thou hast spent the precious time and learnt nothing; art thou not ashamed to appear before mine eyes? I will send thee to a third master, but if thou learnest nothing this time also, I will no longer be thy father." The youth remained a whole year with the third master also, and when he came home again, and his father inquired, "My son, what hast thou learnt?" he answered, "Dear father, I have this year learnt what the frogs croak." Then the father fell into the most furious anger, sprang up, called his people thither, and said, "This man is no longer my son, I drive him forth, and command you to take him out into the forest, and kill him." They took him forth, but when they should have killed him, they could not do it for pity, and let him go, and they cut the eyes and the tongue out of a deer that they might carry them to the old man as a token. The youth wandered on, and after some time came to a fortress where he begged for a night's lodging. "Yes," said the lord of the castle, "if thou wilt pass the night down there in the old tower, go thither; but I warn thee, it is at the peril of thy life, for it is full of wild dogs, which bark and howl without stopping, and at certain hours a man has to be given to them, whom they at once devour." The whole district was in sorrow and dismay because of them, and yet no one could do anything to stop this. The youth, however, was without fear, and said, "Just let me go down to the barking dogs, and give me something that I can throw to them; they will do nothing to harm me." As he himself would have it so, they gave him some food for the wild animals, and led him down to the tower. When he went inside, the dogs did not bark at him, but wagged their tails quite amicably around him, ate what he set before them, and did not hurt one hair of his head. Next morning, to the astonishment of everyone, he came out again safe and unharmed, and said to the lord of the castle, "The dogs have revealed to me, in their own language, why they dwell there, and bring evil on the land. They are bewitched, and are obliged to watch over a great treasure which is below in the tower, and they can have no rest until it is taken away, and I have likewise learnt, from their discourse, how that is to be done." Then all who heard this rejoiced, and the lord of the castle said he would adopt him as a son if he accomplished it successfully. He went down again, and as he knew what he had to do, he did it thoroughly, and brought a chest full of gold out with him. The howling of the wild dogs was henceforth heard no more; they had disappeared, and the country was freed from the trouble. After some time he took it into his head that he would travel to Rome. On the way he passed by a marsh, in which a number of frogs were sitting croaking. He listened to them, and when he became aware of what they were saying, he grew very thoughtful and sad. At last he arrived in Rome, where the Pope had just died, and there was great difficulty as to whom they should appoint as his successor. They at length agreed that the person should be chosen as pope who should be distinguished by some divine and miraculous token. And just as that was decided on, the young count entered into the church, and suddenly two snow-white doves flew on his shoulders and remained sitting there. The ecclesiastics recognized therein the token from above, and asked him on the spot if he would be pope. He was undecided, and knew not if he were worthy of this, but the doves counselled him to do it, and at length he said yes. Then was he anointed and consecrated, and thus was fulfilled what he had heard from the frogs on his way, which had so affected him, that he was to be his Holiness the Pope. Then he had to sing a mass, and did not know one word of it, but the two doves sat continually on his shoulders, and said it all in his ear. * * * * *
Moral of the Story
True wisdom and value may not be recognized by conventional standards, and seemingly useless skills can prove to be invaluable.
Characters
The Son ★ protagonist
None explicitly mentioned, but implied to be of noble birth and appearance.
Attire: Initially, clothing befitting a count's son; later, simple traveler's attire, and finally, papal vestments.
Perceived as stupid, but actually perceptive, compassionate, and humble.
The Aged Count ⚔ antagonist
Aged, implied to be of noble stature.
Attire: Noble attire befitting a count in Switzerland.
Impatient, quick to anger, judgmental, and ultimately cruel.
The Lord of the Castle ◆ supporting
None explicitly mentioned, but implied to be a man of authority.
Attire: Noble attire befitting a castle lord.
Desperate, grateful, and honorable (offering adoption).
The Dogs ◆ supporting
Wild dogs, barking and howling without stopping, later wagging their tails amicably.
Attire: Natural fur.
Initially aggressive and bewitched, later friendly and communicative.
The Frogs ◆ supporting
Sitting in a marsh, croaking.
Attire: None.
Prophetic, communicative.
The Doves ◆ supporting
Two snow-white doves.
Attire: Natural feathers.
Divine, guiding, helpful.
Locations
Count's Estate in Switzerland
The home of an aged count, likely a large property, from which his son is sent away and to which he returns. Implied to be a place of privilege and expectation.
Mood: Strained, disappointed, ultimately furious
The son's repeated failures to learn are revealed, leading to his banishment.
The Forest
A wild, untamed area where the count's servants are commanded to kill his son. It serves as a place of exile and a turning point for the son.
Mood: Desolate, dangerous, merciful
The son is spared by the servants and begins his journey of self-discovery.
Old Tower of the Fortress
A dark, dangerous tower within a fortress, known to be inhabited by wild, bewitched dogs that bark and howl incessantly. It holds a hidden treasure.
Mood: Eerie, perilous, mysterious, ultimately relieved
The son uses his ability to understand dogs to break a curse and retrieve a treasure, gaining recognition and wealth.
Marsh on the Way to Rome
A wet, boggy area filled with croaking frogs, located along the road to Rome.
Mood: Thoughtful, somber, prophetic
The son hears the frogs' prophecy about his future as Pope, which makes him thoughtful and sad.
Church in Rome
A grand religious building in Rome where the successor to the deceased Pope is to be chosen. It is a place of divine intervention and ceremony.
Mood: Sacred, expectant, miraculous, ceremonial
The son is miraculously chosen as the new Pope, fulfilling the prophecy, and performs his first mass with the help of the doves.
Story DNA
Moral
True wisdom and value may not be recognized by conventional standards, and seemingly useless skills can prove to be invaluable.
Plot Summary
A count's son is deemed stupid for only learning animal languages, leading his exasperated father to banish him and order his death. Spared by servants, the son uses his unique ability to understand dogs to break a curse on a castle, gaining wealth and respect. Later, while traveling to Rome, his understanding of frogs reveals his destiny. Guided by divine doves, he is chosen as the new Pope, proving his unconventional skills are a divine gift and ultimately finding his true purpose and worth.
Themes
Emotional Arc
suffering to triumph
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Reflects a pre-Enlightenment worldview where divine intervention and magical abilities are accepted. The role of the Pope as a supreme spiritual leader is central.
Plot Beats (13)
- An old count has a son who is considered stupid because he cannot learn anything traditional.
- The father sends the son to three different masters, each for a year, but the son only learns the languages of dogs, birds, and frogs.
- Enraged, the father disowns the son and orders his servants to kill him in the forest.
- The servants, out of pity, spare the son and present the father with a deer's eyes and tongue as proof of death.
- The son wanders and arrives at a castle where a tower is haunted by wild, barking dogs that demand human sacrifice.
- The son volunteers to spend the night in the tower, confident his dog language skill will protect him.
- He calms the dogs, learns they are bewitched guardians of a treasure, and discovers how to break the spell.
- The son retrieves the treasure, freeing the dogs and the land from the curse, and is offered adoption by the lord.
- He decides to travel to Rome and on the way, hears frogs croaking, which makes him thoughtful and sad.
- In Rome, the Pope has died, and a miraculous sign is sought for his successor.
- Two white doves land on the son's shoulders in the church, recognized as the divine sign.
- The son is asked to be Pope, and the doves confirm his destiny, which aligns with the frogs' prophecy.
- He is consecrated as Pope and, during his first mass, the doves whisper the words to him, enabling him to perform his duties.
