DIE BEIDEN SPERLINGE UND DIE SCHLANGE
by Friedrich Giese · from Türkische Märchen
Adapted Version
Two happy sparrows lived on a roof. They had a warm nest. They had small baby birds. They were very happy. They loved their babies very much.
Father Sparrow flew. Mother Sparrow flew too. They looked for food. They found small seeds. They found little bugs. They brought food to their hungry babies. Their babies were hungry.
One day, Father Sparrow came back. He saw Mother Sparrow. She flew fast. She cried out loud. She was very sad. She was very scared. Father Sparrow asked, "What is wrong?"
Mother Sparrow said, "A Big Snake came. It went into our nest. I asked it to stop. It did not listen. It hurt our babies. It took our babies away. Big Snake is in our nest now."
Mother said, "We will fight!" The Big Snake laughed. It said, "You are small birds. I am a big snake. I am not afraid of you."
Father Sparrow heard this news. He felt very bad. He was very sad. He was very angry. He loved his babies much. He wanted to help them. He wanted to stop the bad snake.
The Man lived in the house. He made a small light. He held a burning stick. The stick had oil. The stick had fire. He wanted light in his dark house.
Father Sparrow saw the burning stick. He had a clever idea. He flew down fast. He took the burning stick. He flew to his nest. He dropped the stick. Fire went on the nest.
The Man saw the fire. He did not want a big fire. He went to the roof. He took a long tool. He wanted to push the nest. He wanted to stop the big fire.
The Big Snake was in the nest. It felt the fire. It felt the tool hit. It did not like this. It moved fast. It poked its head out. It looked from a small hole.
The Man saw the Big Snake. He hit it with his tool. The tool hit the snake. The Big Snake stopped forever. It did not move. It went away.
Small birds can stop big snakes.
Original Story
57. DIE BEIDEN SPERLINGE UND DIE SCHLANGE
Zwei Sperlinge hatten ein Nest auf dem Dach eines Hauses und brachten ihr Leben zu, indem sie zufrieden waren mit dem, was sie sich erwarben. Nachdem sie durch Gottes Willen Junge bekommen hatten, flogen sie immer beide aus, um für ihre Jungen Nahrung zu holen. Eines Tages als der Vater von einem Fluge heimkehrte, sah er, daß die Mutter in Aufregung um das Nest flog, laut schrie und jammerte. Er rief aus: „Was machst du und was jammerst du?“ Sie antwortete: „Warum sollte ich nicht wehklagen? Als ich nach kurzer Abwesenheit zurückkehrte, sah ich, daß eine schreckliche Schlange an unser Nest herankroch. Wie sehr ich auch bat und flehte, es nützte nichts.“ Sie sagte: „Dein Schreien macht auf meine schwarze Seele keinen Eindruck.“ Ich antwortete: „Gut, aber fürchtest du dich nicht davor, daß wir beide uns an dir rächen und dich zu töten versuchen werden?“ Die Schlange antwortete unter Lachen: „Was sollte ich von dir befürchten?“ Da blieb mir nichts anderes übrig als um Hilfe zu rufen. Aber niemand hörte mich und die Schlange hat unsere Jungen gefressen und sich in unser Nest gelegt.“
Als der männliche Sperling diese Schreckenskunde vernahm, war er wie vom Blitze getroffen. Während dessen war der Besitzer des Hauses damit beschäftigt Licht anzuzünden und hielt einen in Öl getauchten brennenden Docht in der Hand. Der Sperling packte den Docht und warf ihn auf sein Nest. Um einen großen Brand zu verhindern, stieg der Hausherr auf das Dach und wollte das Nest mit einer Hacke vom Dache herunterschlagen. Als die Schlange vor sich die Feuerfunken und über sich die Schläge der Hacke merkte, steckte sie aus einem Loch den Kopf heraus und wurde von der Hacke erschlagen.
Story DNA
Moral
Even the smallest creatures can find a way to exact revenge on a powerful oppressor through cleverness and opportunity.
Plot Summary
Two sparrows happily raise their young until a cruel snake invades their nest, devouring their chicks and mocking the mother's pleas. The father sparrow, upon learning of the tragedy, is overcome with grief and a desire for revenge. Seeing the homeowner lighting a lamp, the father sparrow seizes the burning wick and drops it onto his nest. To prevent a fire, the homeowner climbs onto the roof with a hack, inadvertently striking and killing the snake as it emerges from the burning nest.
Themes
Emotional Arc
contentment to despair to vengeful triumph
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Friedrich Giese was a German author, and this tale reflects common themes of nature, survival, and justice found in European fables.
Plot Beats (11)
- Two sparrows live happily on a house roof, raising their young.
- The sparrows fly out to gather food for their chicks.
- The father sparrow returns to find the mother sparrow distressed and wailing.
- The mother explains that a snake climbed into their nest, ignored her pleas, ate their young, and now occupies the nest.
- The snake mocked the mother sparrow's threats of revenge.
- The father sparrow is devastated by the news of his lost children.
- The homeowner is lighting a lamp with an oil-soaked burning wick.
- The father sparrow seizes the burning wick and drops it onto his nest.
- To prevent a fire, the homeowner climbs onto the roof with a hack to remove the nest.
- The snake, feeling the fire and the hack's blows, pokes its head out of a hole.
- The homeowner's hack strikes and kills the snake.
Characters
The Male Sparrow
A small, agile sparrow, typical of its species, with a compact body and quick movements. His feathers are a mix of earthy browns, grays, and subtle streaks of black, providing natural camouflage. He is slightly larger and more robust than his mate, indicative of his role as a provider.
Attire: Natural sparrow plumage, consisting of various shades of brown, gray, and black feathers, with a slightly darker cap and wings.
Wants: To protect his family and avenge the death of his young.
Flaw: His initial shock and grief can be paralyzing, and his desire for revenge leads him to take extreme risks.
He transforms from a contented father into a grief-stricken avenger, demonstrating extreme cunning and bravery to exact justice.
Protective, resourceful, quick-thinking, vengeful, and deeply devoted to his family. He is initially shocked by the tragedy but quickly devises a clever, albeit risky, plan for revenge.
The Female Sparrow
A small, delicate sparrow, slightly smaller and more slender than her mate. Her plumage is a softer blend of browns and grays, with subtle markings. Her movements are quick and often agitated when distressed.
Attire: Natural sparrow plumage, consisting of soft brown and gray feathers, with lighter underparts.
Wants: To protect her young, and later, to mourn their loss.
Flaw: Her fear and inability to defend her young against a larger predator make her feel helpless.
She experiences profound grief and helplessness, serving as the catalyst for her mate's revenge.
Maternal, fearful, desperate, and sorrowful. She is overwhelmed by the tragedy and initially helpless.
The Snake
A large, terrifying snake, likely a constrictor or venomous species, with a thick, muscular body. Its scales are dark, possibly black or deep green, giving it a menacing appearance. It is long enough to reach the nest on the roof.
Attire: Its natural scaly skin, dark and possibly patterned, allowing it to blend into shadows.
Wants: Hunger and a predatory instinct, coupled with a sadistic enjoyment of its victims' fear.
Flaw: Its arrogance and overconfidence lead it to stay in the nest, making it vulnerable to the house owner's intervention.
It acts as a destructive force, causing tragedy, and is ultimately destroyed by its own hubris and the sparrows' cunning.
Cruel, remorseless, arrogant, and mocking. It takes pleasure in the sparrows' suffering and underestimates their capacity for revenge.
The House Owner
A sturdy, practical man, likely of a working-class background, accustomed to maintaining his home. His build is average, suggesting a life of manual labor.
Attire: Simple, practical clothing suitable for a German house owner in the 19th century. This would include a sturdy linen or wool shirt, possibly a waistcoat, and durable trousers, in muted, earthy tones like brown, gray, or dark blue. He might wear a simple cap.
Wants: To prevent his house from burning down.
Flaw: Unaware of the full drama unfolding, he acts on instinct to protect his property, inadvertently becoming an instrument of revenge.
He remains largely unchanged, serving as an unwitting tool in the sparrows' revenge plot.
Responsible, practical, quick to react, and concerned for the safety of his property.
Locations
House Rooftop with Sparrow Nest
The sloped, tiled roof of a German-style house, likely with red clay tiles, where a sparrow's nest is built. The nest is a small, woven structure of twigs and grass, nestled securely on the roof. The air is clear, suggesting a typical day.
Mood: Initially peaceful and domestic, then shifts to frantic and desperate, finally vengeful and dangerous.
The sparrows' nest is built here; the snake devours the chicks and occupies the nest; the male sparrow sets the nest on fire; the house owner kills the snake with a hoe.
Interior of the House (implied)
An unseen interior space within the German house, where the owner is preparing to light a lamp. The air would be still and warm, with the scent of lamp oil.
Mood: Cozy, domestic, mundane before the dramatic events unfold.
The house owner is lighting a lamp, providing the male sparrow with the tool for its revenge.