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The Story of the Youth Who Went Forth to Learn What Fear Was
Although the hero of this story is a youngest son, he does not fit the usual character of such a son, who normally achieves his goals with the aid of magical helpers. Accomplishing his task with his own skill and courage, he fits more in the mold of a heroic character.
26 pages, Paperback
Published May 11, 2012
1 person is currently reading
24 people want to read
About the author
Jacob Grimm
5,736 books2,258 followersGerman philologist and folklorist Jakob Ludwig Karl Grimm in 1822 formulated Grimm's Law, the basis for much of modern comparative linguistics. With his brother Wilhelm Karl Grimm (1786-1859), he collected Germanic folk tales and published them as
Grimm's Fairy Tales
(1812-1815).
Indo-European stop consonants, represented in Germanic, underwent the regular changes that Grimm's Law describes; this law essentially states that Indo-European p shifted to Germanic f, t shifted to th, and k shifted to h. Indo-European b shifted to Germanic p, d shifted to t, and g shifted to k. Indo-European bh shifted to Germanic b, dh shifted to d, and gh shifted to g.
This jurist and mythologist also authored the monumental German Dictionary and his Deutsche Mythologie .
Adapted from Wikipedia.
Indo-European stop consonants, represented in Germanic, underwent the regular changes that Grimm's Law describes; this law essentially states that Indo-European p shifted to Germanic f, t shifted to th, and k shifted to h. Indo-European b shifted to Germanic p, d shifted to t, and g shifted to k. Indo-European bh shifted to Germanic b, dh shifted to d, and gh shifted to g.
This jurist and mythologist also authored the monumental German Dictionary and his Deutsche Mythologie .
Adapted from Wikipedia.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
September 10, 2022
Märchen von einem, der auszog, das Fürchten zu lernen von den Gebrüdern Grimm
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4*)
„Ach, wenn es mir doch nur gruselte!“
Ein witziges, kleines Märchen der Gebrüder Grimm, gelesen vom besten Sprecher aller Zeiten: David Nathan. 😁👍🏻
Kurzweilig und gut gesprochen = Empfehlung! 😍
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4*)
„Ach, wenn es mir doch nur gruselte!“
Ein witziges, kleines Märchen der Gebrüder Grimm, gelesen vom besten Sprecher aller Zeiten: David Nathan. 😁👍🏻
Kurzweilig und gut gesprochen = Empfehlung! 😍
September 30, 2018
Often, heavy thinkers are perceived as fools simply because they are different and don’t share many common characteristics with others. I like the message and the ending is actually pretty funny. By shudder, one would assume the meaning to be fear, but the protagonist quite literally learns how to shiver when a bucket of cold water and fishes is dumped on him in his sleep.
November 17, 2024
kurzweilig, wie erwartet, kein Highlight oder spannende Erkenntnis...
January 15, 2015
This dude has 2 sons. One is an awesome son and one is considered a moron.
The moron son really isn't a moron son but rather a thinker but the dad is like "DUDE! Quit thinking about stuff and learn a trait!" And the moron son is like "Cool dad! I totes will cuz I want to learn how to shudder!"
(which means he wants to know why people say it makes them 'shudder' when they hear scary stories or get the willies)
Dad is like "You dummy!"
Then this one dude is all like "I'll teach the boy to shudder and give him a job!" And the Dad is like "COOL!" but that doesn't work out too well and the Dad gets so ticked that he basically disowns the boy and is like "Go away".
The boy goes off on his way and snags a few offers of 'shuddering lessons' but doesn't learn and his 'boss dudes' aren't very cool with the result of meeting the boy.
Finally he learns about a castle that if he spends 3 nights in it he'll get to marry a princess and some gold and become king.
The real king dude is like "Cool! Go do it and you are sure to learn how to shudder!"
The boy spends 3 nights in the castle where he is greeted by demon cats and dogs and dead dudes and ghosts and ghouls. And still the boy doesn't know how to shudder but is rather baffled to why these spooks aren't doing logical stuff like sitting by the fire and getting warm.
In the end the boy marries the princess and becomes king but still wants to shudder. This ticks off his new wife and one night she throws a bucket of water and fish on him while he's sleeping and he's like "OMG!! Why does this make me shudder?"
And that's how he learned to shudder.
I think the moral of this story is don't assume someone is a moron just because they don't pick up on things as easy as others... they are probably thinking it through.
Plus, there's probably something to be said about simpletons and bravery!
The moron son really isn't a moron son but rather a thinker but the dad is like "DUDE! Quit thinking about stuff and learn a trait!" And the moron son is like "Cool dad! I totes will cuz I want to learn how to shudder!"
(which means he wants to know why people say it makes them 'shudder' when they hear scary stories or get the willies)
Dad is like "You dummy!"
Then this one dude is all like "I'll teach the boy to shudder and give him a job!" And the Dad is like "COOL!" but that doesn't work out too well and the Dad gets so ticked that he basically disowns the boy and is like "Go away".
The boy goes off on his way and snags a few offers of 'shuddering lessons' but doesn't learn and his 'boss dudes' aren't very cool with the result of meeting the boy.
Finally he learns about a castle that if he spends 3 nights in it he'll get to marry a princess and some gold and become king.
The real king dude is like "Cool! Go do it and you are sure to learn how to shudder!"
The boy spends 3 nights in the castle where he is greeted by demon cats and dogs and dead dudes and ghosts and ghouls. And still the boy doesn't know how to shudder but is rather baffled to why these spooks aren't doing logical stuff like sitting by the fire and getting warm.
In the end the boy marries the princess and becomes king but still wants to shudder. This ticks off his new wife and one night she throws a bucket of water and fish on him while he's sleeping and he's like "OMG!! Why does this make me shudder?"
And that's how he learned to shudder.
I think the moral of this story is don't assume someone is a moron just because they don't pick up on things as easy as others... they are probably thinking it through.
Plus, there's probably something to be said about simpletons and bravery!
October 13, 2020
this was just weird...
May 25, 2021
Ok this one was just weird, LOL.
March 18, 2022
This story was weird and hilarious at the same time. I give it four stars because of how funny it is.
The youth is probably one of my favourite Grimm protagonists because of how funny he is. He is thought to be stupid and useless by people but he is somewhat reasonable and just does not simply conform to the strictures of society. He does not react and behave the way others do. He just does things differently. His ultimate goal in this story is the shudder. He interacts with corpses and a bunch of weird ghosts, I believe, in a castle and ultimately marries a princess but still does not learn to shudder. His interactions with the dead and ghosts are so different that it is funny. Whereas normal people are afraid of corpses and ghosts, he is not. He can be read as stupid here because he does not seem to even interpret them as corpses or ghosts.
The ending is the most hilarious! The princess gets fed up of his constant complaints of not learning how to shudder and throws a bucket filled with fishes from the pond on him. And so, the youth learned how to shudder.
The youth is probably one of my favourite Grimm protagonists because of how funny he is. He is thought to be stupid and useless by people but he is somewhat reasonable and just does not simply conform to the strictures of society. He does not react and behave the way others do. He just does things differently. His ultimate goal in this story is the shudder. He interacts with corpses and a bunch of weird ghosts, I believe, in a castle and ultimately marries a princess but still does not learn to shudder. His interactions with the dead and ghosts are so different that it is funny. Whereas normal people are afraid of corpses and ghosts, he is not. He can be read as stupid here because he does not seem to even interpret them as corpses or ghosts.
The ending is the most hilarious! The princess gets fed up of his constant complaints of not learning how to shudder and throws a bucket filled with fishes from the pond on him. And so, the youth learned how to shudder.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 4, 2022
After all that , that’s what finally made him afraid ????lol kind of shaking my head and laughing at the same time at this story :)
February 5, 2025
lol I thought this would be the longest misogynist aka "I hate my wife so much" joke ever told, but the ending was even worse, because it was so bland.
(The protagonist faces ghosts and evil, but is never afraid of anything. In the end the king offers him - Surprise! - to marry his daughter. I thought he will be afraid of her. xD)
The encounters with the fear taunting stuff was actually creepy. It gave me "Lestat* dances with the dead mother" vibes. (* from Interview with the Vampire)
The protagonist punching his master unknowingly after telling him three times to leave was kinda funny also.
These gemeinfreie (in public domain) audio books by Audible are all so nicely voiced acted. This one is read by David Nathan who is known for also reading Stephen King books.
(The protagonist faces ghosts and evil, but is never afraid of anything. In the end the king offers him - Surprise! - to marry his daughter. I thought he will be afraid of her. xD)
The encounters with the fear taunting stuff was actually creepy. It gave me "Lestat* dances with the dead mother" vibes. (* from Interview with the Vampire)
The protagonist punching his master unknowingly after telling him three times to leave was kinda funny also.
These gemeinfreie (in public domain) audio books by Audible are all so nicely voiced acted. This one is read by David Nathan who is known for also reading Stephen King books.
February 27, 2023
David Nathan liest das Grimm`sche "Märchen von einem, der auszog das Fürchten zu lernen" wirklich ganz hervorragend - so wie man es von ihm kennt. Jedoch konnte auch er nicht darüber hinweg täuschen, dass das Märchen für meinen Geschmack einfach ein wenig in die Jahre gekommen ist.
Ein Vater mit einem schlauen und einem dummen Sohn - nun ja. Und dann erhält der "dumme" Sohn die Anweisung, seine Lebensaufgabe zu suchen - er möchte das Fürchten lernen.
Ich weiß schon, dass Märchen eine ganz eigene Sprache haben, aber es wäre einfach gelogen, wenn ich behaupten würde, dass ich dieses Märchen wirklich mochte.
Ein Vater mit einem schlauen und einem dummen Sohn - nun ja. Und dann erhält der "dumme" Sohn die Anweisung, seine Lebensaufgabe zu suchen - er möchte das Fürchten lernen.
Ich weiß schon, dass Märchen eine ganz eigene Sprache haben, aber es wäre einfach gelogen, wenn ich behaupten würde, dass ich dieses Märchen wirklich mochte.
July 28, 2023
It was so funny, I couldn't put the story down. The youth really was fearless and when things didn't go his way, he'd just find a way over it without being scared of it at all. I think I needed to read this. I think I needed a little laugh at life and adversities so that I wouldn't become scared of everything. I think this story was written for the fearful so that they know what it's like in the other side when one is not fearful. I'd love to read this again. I'd love to discuss this with a friend as well.
March 16, 2024
Jacob Grimm, alongside his brother Wilhelm, is renowned for compiling "Grimm's Fairy Tales," a collection of German folktales. This book is a captivating journey into the heart of folklore, presenting a mixture of enchanting and sometimes dark stories that have fascinated readers for generations. Grimm's work is not just a mere collection of tales; it's a profound exploration of the human condition, morals, and the cultural heritage of Germany. The stories range from the well-loved "Cinderella" and "Snow White" to the less known but equally intriguing tales. Each story is a masterpiece of fantasy, imbued with timeless themes and moral lessons, making this book a valuable treasure for both young and adult readers. Jacob Grimm's contribution through this compilation has left an indelible mark on literature and continues to inspire the imagination of readers worldwide.
July 31, 2022
Da sein Bruder oft davon redet, dass er sich gruselt, möchte der Protagonist dies nun auch lernen. Er begegnet auf seiner Reise verschiedenen Menschen, aber niemand schafft dies.
Als er mit Leichtigkeit drei Nächte in einem Spukschloss übersteht, wird ihm aus Respekt die wunderschöne Tochter des Königs versprochen. Diese versucht auch ihn zum Gruseln zu brigen, schüttet ihm im Schlaf einen Eimer kaltes Wasser mit kleinen Fischen übers Gesicht und ist nun endlich erfolgreich: er gruselt sich.
Als er mit Leichtigkeit drei Nächte in einem Spukschloss übersteht, wird ihm aus Respekt die wunderschöne Tochter des Königs versprochen. Diese versucht auch ihn zum Gruseln zu brigen, schüttet ihm im Schlaf einen Eimer kaltes Wasser mit kleinen Fischen übers Gesicht und ist nun endlich erfolgreich: er gruselt sich.
March 21, 2025
I found this story entertaining and even original in sections (although there is a bit where our hero is in a haunted castle that is similar to at least one other story I've read). Here, the younger of two sons, who is described as the duller son (so you know he's going to succeed in life), goes out into the world after an unfortunate incident in his home town. He is eager and even desperate to know what fear is, and what it's like to shudder at something. The ending is hilarious.
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October 12, 2023Ich hab das Märchen bereits gekannt, war jedoch neugierig auf das Hörbuch. Und ich muss zugeben, dass ich das Hörbuch sehr genossen habe - der Sprecher David Nathan hat es aber nochmals zu einer ganz neuen Erfahrung gemacht. War toll!
August 7, 2025
There were two brothers, one very smart and one very dumb.
The dumb one was so dumb that he had no idea what fear was.
He left his father's house to learn how to shudder.
Had many adventures in which he was fortunate.
Eventually, he learned even how to shudder.
The dumb one was so dumb that he had no idea what fear was.
He left his father's house to learn how to shudder.
Had many adventures in which he was fortunate.
Eventually, he learned even how to shudder.
November 20, 2022
this was so dark and bizarre, yet funny. i definitely can’t relate to this guy though.
Grimm Brothers Challenge.
Grimm Brothers Challenge.
January 11, 2023
He did all of that scary stuff just for fish to scare him. Lowkey resonate with him.
December 26, 2023
Easily the worst Brothers Grimm story.
September 1, 2024
Guy is incapable of being scared. I had a friend who was like that once. He fucking died a horrible death.
November 12, 2024
Definitely will read this to my future kids despite the nightmares that will follow
January 9, 2025
Finally experienced the fullness of life?
September 20, 2025
I've never said this before, but I am disappointed it wasn't scary.
Wait, it wasn't supposed to be?
Wait, it wasn't supposed to be?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 12, 2025
schnelles Hörbuch für Zwischendurch
November 15, 2021
Reading this story from Grimm's Complete Fairy Tales
4. The Story of the Youth Who Went Forth to Learn What Fear Was
The story is about a youth that doesn't have a lick of sense to him. His father and elder brother always must carry on the day to day duties because this youth is such a simpleton. When over hearing others talking about shuddering (in fright) he wants to learn because it means he would have learned SOMETHING. Everyone ridicules him and his foolishness and he set off to learn how to shudder (in fear). People try to help him by putting him in scary situations but because he such a fool he doesn't understand how to be afraid. His simple ways turn out to be something that does make him a living in the end after staying in a haunted castle with hidden riches beneath.
Personal Notes
I liked this one! Even though he was a bit of a simple minded fool, I am glad that it paid off for him in the end. To stay in a haunted castle only because he hadn't learned how to shudder yet is great. The fact that his father wanted nothing to do with him and then he becomes king, I love this kind of karma. The dad, brother and town for which he came from will never benefit from his success.
4. The Story of the Youth Who Went Forth to Learn What Fear Was
The story is about a youth that doesn't have a lick of sense to him. His father and elder brother always must carry on the day to day duties because this youth is such a simpleton. When over hearing others talking about shuddering (in fright) he wants to learn because it means he would have learned SOMETHING. Everyone ridicules him and his foolishness and he set off to learn how to shudder (in fear). People try to help him by putting him in scary situations but because he such a fool he doesn't understand how to be afraid. His simple ways turn out to be something that does make him a living in the end after staying in a haunted castle with hidden riches beneath.
Personal Notes
I liked this one! Even though he was a bit of a simple minded fool, I am glad that it paid off for him in the end. To stay in a haunted castle only because he hadn't learned how to shudder yet is great. The fact that his father wanted nothing to do with him and then he becomes king, I love this kind of karma. The dad, brother and town for which he came from will never benefit from his success.
October 2, 2017
This was a relatively good story. A little too long for my liking but it was well done. I feel that the main character may have been Mary Sued, however, and it was quite. Aggravating to read. The ending didn't make much sense; but that might be because I'm very tipsy right now. A good story but there was just. A bit too much information in the story and it wasn't really enjoyable for me personally.
October 24, 2015
"He who wants to be a sickle must learn to bend sometimes."
A hilarious story, and highly creative scenarios...
A hilarious story, and highly creative scenarios...
January 2, 2018
3/5 - Humorous short story however the moral was not as clear as in the other Grimm's story.
February 13, 2018
"Oh, what makes me shudder
so?—what makes me shudder so, dear wife? Ah! now I know
what it is to shudder!"
so?—what makes me shudder so, dear wife? Ah! now I know
what it is to shudder!"
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews