The Golden Goose Flashcards
by The Brothers Grimm — tap or click to flip
Flashcard Review
Flashcards: The Golden Goose
What nickname is the youngest son given, and why?
He is called Dummling because his family considers him foolish and constantly mocks and belittles him.
What does the mother give the eldest son before he goes into the forest?
A beautiful sweet cake and a bottle of wine so he will not suffer from hunger or thirst.
What does the little grey-haired old man ask each brother for?
A piece of cake and a drink of wine, saying he is hungry and thirsty.
How do the eldest and second brothers respond to the old man's request?
Both refuse, saying that sharing would leave them with nothing for themselves.
What punishment befalls the eldest brother after refusing to share?
He makes a false stroke with his axe and cuts himself in the arm, forcing him to go home.
What happens to the second brother in the forest?
He strikes himself in the leg with the axe after a few strokes and has to be carried home.
What food does Dummling's mother give him compared to his brothers?
A cake made with water and baked in cinders plus a bottle of sour beer, far inferior to the sweet cake and wine his brothers received.
What magical transformation occurs when Dummling shares his food?
The cinder-cake turns into a fine sweet cake and the sour beer becomes good wine.
What reward does the old man direct Dummling to after they eat together?
He tells Dummling to cut down an old tree, where he will find something special at the roots -- a goose with feathers of pure gold.
What happens when the innkeeper's eldest daughter grabs the goose by the wing?
Her finger and hand stick fast to the goose and she cannot let go.
How does the chain of stuck people grow at the inn?
Each of the three daughters touches the person before her and becomes stuck, so all three are attached by morning.
Why does the parson get stuck to the procession?
He grabs the youngest daughter's hand to pull her away, scolding the girls for chasing a young man, and becomes stuck himself.
How many people are stuck together by the time Dummling reaches the city?
Seven -- the three innkeeper's daughters, the parson, the sexton, and two labourers.
What is the king's decree about his daughter?
Whoever can make the princess laugh shall marry her, because she is so serious that no one has been able to make her laugh.
What finally makes the solemn princess laugh?
The sight of seven people running helplessly one behind the other, all stuck to Dummling and his goose.
How does the story end for Dummling?
He marries the princess, and after the king dies, he inherits the kingdom and lives contentedly with his wife.
What role does the little grey-haired old man play in the story?
He serves as a magical helper figure who tests the brothers' generosity and rewards Dummling's kindness with the golden goose.
How does the father view Dummling when he asks to go into the forest?
He dismisses Dummling as incompetent, saying his brothers hurt themselves so Dummling should stay home since he "does not understand anything about it."
What motivates each of the innkeeper's daughters to touch the goose?
Greed and curiosity -- each wants to pluck a golden feather for herself, ignoring warnings from the others.
How does the story use the "rule of three" as a structural device?
Three brothers attempt the forest task, three daughters get stuck to the goose, and the pattern of three repeated trials builds toward the climax.
What is ironic about Dummling being the one who succeeds?
The son everyone considers the biggest fool accomplishes what his supposedly smarter brothers cannot, proving that kindness matters more than cleverness.
How does the story use comic escalation as a literary technique?
The chain of stuck people grows increasingly absurd -- from daughters to parson to sexton to labourers -- building comedic momentum toward the princess's laughter.
What type of irony is at work when the parson scolds the girls for impropriety?
Situational irony -- the parson criticizes the girls' behavior, then immediately joins their ridiculous procession by getting stuck himself.
How does the story contrast Dummling's generosity with his brothers' selfishness?
The brothers refuse to share fine food and are punished with injuries, while Dummling willingly shares his poor rations and is rewarded with a magical gift.
What does the transformation of Dummling's food suggest about the story's moral worldview?
It suggests that a generous spirit transforms even meager offerings into something valuable -- inner goodness is rewarded regardless of material wealth.
How does greed function as a self-punishing force in the story?
Those who act out of greed -- the brothers refusing to share, the daughters grabbing at golden feathers -- bring misfortune upon themselves through their own selfish actions.
What does the word "hew" mean as used in the story?
To chop or cut with an axe, specifically referring to cutting down trees for wood.
What does "draught" mean when the old man asks for "a draught of your wine"?
A drink or gulp of a beverage, from the old English usage meaning a quantity drunk in one swallow.
What does "sexton" refer to in the story?
A church caretaker responsible for maintaining the building and grounds, who also assists with services like christenings.
What is significant about the old man's words: "Since you have a good heart, and are willing to divide what you have, I will give you good luck"?
This line states the story's moral directly -- that generosity of spirit, not wealth or intelligence, is what earns reward.
What does the father's dismissal -- "you will get wiser by hurting yourself" -- reveal about the family dynamic?
It shows the family expects Dummling to fail and only lets him go as a throwaway attempt, underscoring his underdog status.