Hans in Luck
Encyclopedia
Hans in Luck is a fairy tale
of Germanic origin, recorded by the Brothers Grimm
. It is Aarne-Thompson type 1415.
The horse bolts and Hans is thrown from the animal. Where upon he meets a shepherd who convinces Hans to swap his horse for a cow. Telling Hans that a cow can provide milk, cheese and butter and is of more leisurely company. Hans takes up the offer and takes the cow and continues on with his journey only to find that the cow is dry and not producing milk as he had been told.
Disgruntled with the cow, Hans meets a butcher who he exchanges his cow for pig. Thanking the butcher for the pig Hans setting off jogging again, hopeful he has know found an ideal travel companion. Alas, Hans meets a countryman who informs him that the pig is owned by the squire and he is in danger of being caught for taking the squire's pig. Hans takes the countryman's goose in exchange for his pig, happy that it will provide a good roast and a supply of goose fat.
At the next village Hans sees a scissor-grinder and explains his story to him. The scissor-grinder offers him a grindstone for his goose arguing that a grindstone will provide a source of income. Hans happily exchanges the goose for the grindstone. He continues on his way, but is tired by the grindstone and is short of money for food.
Hans stops for a drink on the banks of a river, the grindstone falls into the deep water and is lost. Hans is happy to be rid of the heavy grindstone and being free of all troubles. He walks on to his mother's house and recounts his lucky tale.
and published in Grimm's Fairy Tales
1812.
It has also been made adapted for the stage by American composer Omari Tau in the one-act opera Hans In Luck (2011)
contains a similar sequence in which the main character persuades herself that every change is proof of her good luck.
Fairy tale
A fairy tale is a type of short story that typically features such folkloric characters, such as fairies, goblins, elves, trolls, dwarves, giants or gnomes, and usually magic or enchantments. However, only a small number of the stories refer to fairies...
of Germanic origin, recorded by the Brothers Grimm
Brothers Grimm
The Brothers Grimm , Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm , were German academics, linguists, cultural researchers, and authors who collected folklore and published several collections of it as Grimm's Fairy Tales, which became very popular...
. It is Aarne-Thompson type 1415.
Plot summary
Hans worked hard for seven years but wishes to return to see his poor mother. His master pays him his wages which amounts to a lump of gold the size of his head. Hans puts the gold in handkerchief and starts out on his journey jogging but soon becomes tired. He spots a rider on horse back and seeing the ease at which the horse travels he offers to exchange his lump of gold for the horse. Happy with the exchange the man gives him the horse and Hans rides off.The horse bolts and Hans is thrown from the animal. Where upon he meets a shepherd who convinces Hans to swap his horse for a cow. Telling Hans that a cow can provide milk, cheese and butter and is of more leisurely company. Hans takes up the offer and takes the cow and continues on with his journey only to find that the cow is dry and not producing milk as he had been told.
Disgruntled with the cow, Hans meets a butcher who he exchanges his cow for pig. Thanking the butcher for the pig Hans setting off jogging again, hopeful he has know found an ideal travel companion. Alas, Hans meets a countryman who informs him that the pig is owned by the squire and he is in danger of being caught for taking the squire's pig. Hans takes the countryman's goose in exchange for his pig, happy that it will provide a good roast and a supply of goose fat.
At the next village Hans sees a scissor-grinder and explains his story to him. The scissor-grinder offers him a grindstone for his goose arguing that a grindstone will provide a source of income. Hans happily exchanges the goose for the grindstone. He continues on his way, but is tired by the grindstone and is short of money for food.
Hans stops for a drink on the banks of a river, the grindstone falls into the deep water and is lost. Hans is happy to be rid of the heavy grindstone and being free of all troubles. He walks on to his mother's house and recounts his lucky tale.
Origin
"Hans in Luck" is a German folk tale recorded by the Brothers GrimmBrothers Grimm
The Brothers Grimm , Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm , were German academics, linguists, cultural researchers, and authors who collected folklore and published several collections of it as Grimm's Fairy Tales, which became very popular...
and published in Grimm's Fairy Tales
Grimm's Fairy Tales
Children's and Household Tales is a collection of German origin fairy tales first published in 1812 by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, the Brothers Grimm. The collection is commonly known today as Grimms' Fairy Tales .-Composition:...
1812.
Adaptations
The story has been adapted for an animation film called Hans in Luck (1978)It has also been made adapted for the stage by American composer Omari Tau in the one-act opera Hans In Luck (2011)
Analysis
Hans in Luck has been described as an ironic fairy tale which inverts the normal rags to riches story format. It can also be set apart for many other folk and fairy tales as it avoids romantic themes such as damsels and princesses instead focuses upon the maternal love as Hans is returning home to see his mother.Motifs
The English fairy tale The Hedley KowThe Hedley Kow
"The Hedley Kow" is an English fairy tale. It was collected by Joseph Jacobs in More English Fairy Tales in 1894.-Synopsis:A poor woman finds a pot on the road. She thinks it must have a hole for it to be discarded, but optimistically decides she might find a use for it as a flowerpot. Looking...
contains a similar sequence in which the main character persuades herself that every change is proof of her good luck.