The Wolf and the Seven Kids: Grimm's Fairy Tales

The Story of "The Wolf and the Seven Kids"

There was once an old Nanny-goat who had seven Kids, and she was just as fond of them as a mother of her children. One day she was going into the woods to fetch some food for them, so she called them all up to her, and said—

‘My dear children, I am going out into the woods. Beware of the Wolf! If once he gets into the house, he will eat you up, skin, and hair, and all. The rascal often disguises himself, but you will know him by his rough voice and his black feet.’

The Kids said, ‘Oh, we will be very careful, dear mother. You may be quite happy about us.’

Bleating tenderly, the old Goat went off to her work. Before long, some one knocked at the door, and cried—

‘Open the door, dear children’ Your mother has come back and brought something for each of you.’

But the Kids knew quite well by the voice that it was the Wolf.

‘We won’t open the door,’ they cried. ‘You are not our mother. She has a soft gentle voice; but yours is rough, and we are quite sure that you are the Wolf.’

So he went away to a shop and bought a lump of chalk, which he ate, and it made his voice quite soft. He went back, knocked at the door again, and cried—

‘Open the door, dear children. Your mother has come back and brought something for each of you.’

But the Wolf had put one of his paws on the window sill, where the Kids saw it, and cried—

‘We won’t open the door. Our mother has not got a black foot as you have; you are the Wolf.’

Then the Wolf ran to a Baker, and said, ‘I have bruised my foot; please put some dough on it.’ And when the Baker had put some dough on his foot, he ran to the Miller and said, ‘Strew some flour on my foot.’

The Miller thought, ‘The old Wolf is going to take somebody in,’ and refused.

But the Wolf said, ‘If you don’t do it, I will eat you up.’

So the Miller was frightened, and whitened his paws. People are like that, you know.

Now the wretch went for the third time to the door, and knocked, and said—

‘Open the door, children. Your dear mother has come home, and has brought something for each of you out of the wood.’

The Kids cried, ‘Show us your feet first, that we may be sure you are our mother.’

He put his paws on the window sill, and when they saw that they were white, they believed all he said, and opened the door.

Alas! It was the Wolf who walked in. They were terrified, and tried to hide themselves. One ran under the table, the second jumped into bed, the third into the oven, the fourth ran into the kitchen, the fifth got into the cupboard, the sixth into the wash-tub, and the seventh hid in the tall clock-case. But the Wolf found them all but one, and made short work of them. He swallowed one after the other, except the youngest one in the clock-case, whom he did not find. When he had satisfied his appetite, he took himself off, and lay down in a meadow outside, where he soon fell asleep.

Not long after the old Nanny-goat came back from the woods. Oh! what a terrible sight met her eyes! The house door was wide open, table, chairs, and benches were overturned, the washing bowl was smashed to atoms, the covers and pillows torn from the bed. She searched all over the house for her children, but nowhere were they to be found. She called them by name, one by one, but no one answered. At last, when she came to the youngest, a tiny voice cried:

‘I am here, dear mother, hidden in the clock-case.’

She brought him out, and he told her that the Wolf had come and devoured all the others.

You may imagine how she wept over her children.

At last, in her grief, she went out, and the youngest Kid ran by her side. When they went into the meadow, there lay the Wolf under a tree, making the branches shake with his snores. They examined him from every side, and they could plainly see movements within his distended body.

‘Ah, heavens!’ thought the Goat, ‘is it possible that my poor children whom he ate for his supper, should be still alive?’

She sent the Kid running to the house to fetch scissors, needles, and thread. Then she cut a hole in the monster’s side, and, hardly had she begun, when a Kid popped out its head, and as soon as the hole was big enough, all six jumped out, one after the other, all alive, and without having suffered the least injury, for, in his greed, the monster had swallowed them whole. You may imagine the mother’s joy. She hugged them, and skipped about like a tailor on his wedding day. At last she said:

‘Go and fetch some big stones, children, and we will fill up the brute’s body while he is asleep.’

Then the seven Kids brought a lot of stones, as fast as they could carry them, and stuffed the Wolf with them till he could hold no more. The old mother quickly sewed him up, without his having noticed anything, or even moved.

At last, when the Wolf had had his sleep out, he got up, and, as the stones made him feel very thirsty, he wanted to go to a spring to drink. But as soon as he moved the stones began to roll about and rattle inside him. Then he cried—

‘What’s the rumbling and tumbling
That sets my stomach grumbling?
I thought ’twas six Kids, flesh and bones,
Now find it’s nought but rolling stones.’

When he reached the spring, and stooped over the water to drink, the heavy stones dragged him down, and he was drowned miserably.

When the seven Kids saw what had happened, they came running up, and cried aloud—‘The Wolf is dead, the Wolf is dead!’ and they and their mother capered and danced round the spring in their joy.

The Story of "The Wolf and the Seven Kids"
- Grimm's Fairy Tales -

The Moral Lesson of “The Wolf and the Seven Kids” and Its Timeless Teachings

The Brothers Grimm fairy tale, "The Wolf and the Seven Kids," presents a story rich with themes of caution, deception, and maternal love. Like many classic fables, it imparts valuable lessons that can apply to everyday life, particularly about the importance of vigilance and the consequences of misplaced trust. Below, we explore the key moral lessons from this fairy tale and offer ideas to help you reflect on how these teachings can be applied in both personal and broader contexts.

1. Trust, But Verify: The Importance of Caution

At the heart of "The Wolf and the Seven Kids" lies a significant lesson about trusting appearances. Despite the wolf's efforts to disguise himself with a softer voice and flour-whitened feet, the kids are initially alert and skeptical, as their mother warned them. However, when the wolf's deception becomes more convincing, they open the door and suffer the consequences.

This teaches the importance of being cautious when faced with situations where trust is required. It serves as a reminder to always "verify" before fully trusting someone or something, especially when there are warning signs. In a world filled with scammers, manipulations, and people or situations with hidden intentions, we must learn to balance trust with healthy skepticism.

2. Listening to Warnings and Heeding Advice in the Fairy Tale "The Wolf and the Seven Kids"

The mother goat’s warning to her kids is clear: beware of the wolf. She gives them explicit instructions on how to identify the danger. While the kids do their best to follow her advice, they eventually fall for the wolf’s trick when his voice and appearance seem to match the description of their mother.

This highlights the value of listening to the advice of those who care about you. Parents, mentors, and experienced individuals often provide warnings and guidelines that stem from experience. Disregarding these teachings can lead to avoidable dangers.

3. Perseverance in the Face of Adversity

The nanny-goat in "The Wolf and the Seven Kids," upon discovering the destruction in her home and the loss of her children, is initially devastated. However, she does not succumb to grief. Instead, she takes action, finds the wolf, and through cleverness and courage, rescues her kids. Her perseverance turns a tragedy into a happy reunion.

This demonstrates how resilience in the face of adversity can lead to overcoming even the most dire circumstances. The mother goat’s determination to save her children reflects the power of staying strong and finding solutions, even when the situation seems hopeless.

4. Deception Has Consequences in the Story of “The Wolf and the Seven Kids”

The wolf’s deceit eventually leads to his downfall. Though he initially succeeds in tricking the kids and devouring them, his greed blinds him to the consequences. After being tricked himself by the mother goat, his body is filled with heavy stones, which ultimately cause his death when he attempts to drink from the spring.

This aspect of the story reflects the timeless truth that deception, greed, and malice often backfire. Dishonest individuals may gain temporary success, but their actions often come with severe repercussions. The wolf's downfall teaches that malicious behavior, no matter how successful it seems in the moment, often ends in disaster.

5. Maternal Love and Sacrifice

One of the most touching aspects of "The Wolf and the Seven Kids" is the nanny-goat’s deep love for her children. Even in the face of tragedy, her primary concern is finding and saving her kids. She goes to great lengths—confronting the wolf and sewing him up with stones—to protect them and bring them back to safety.

This aspect of the story is a reminder of the power of love, particularly a mother’s love. It speaks to the protective and self-sacrificing nature of parents, who are often willing to face great risks and endure hardship for the sake of their children.

6. The Vulnerability of Innocence in “The Wolf and the Seven Kids”

The kids in the story represent innocence, and their vulnerability to the wolf's deception underscores the importance of educating and guiding the young. Children are naturally trusting, but without proper guidance, they can easily fall prey to the dangers of the world. This theme emphasizes the role of parents and guardians in teaching children how to protect themselves from harm.

Conclusion

“The Wolf and the Seven Kids” may be a simple fairy tale, but its lessons are profound and timeless. The themes of trust, caution, perseverance, and love resonate with readers across generations. Whether facing challenges, teaching children, or navigating relationships, the story reminds us of the importance of vigilance, integrity, and resilience.

By reflecting on these teachings, we can better prepare ourselves for the complexities of life and make decisions that are rooted in wisdom, caution, and love.