German 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.
Fantastic! A wonderful tale of the magic of karma... and why having mercy on all life forms will be rewarded in due time to those who care. What a departure from the usual violence found in the Grimm stories (or any tale from this era). "The Queen Bee" instead focuses on how the true winners of this world show love, understanding, and compassion to insects and animals... and receive retribution by the Universe. Bravo !!!
A lesser-known Grimm tale, beautifully and lushly illustrated. The youngest of three brothers, called Dimwit, is mocked by his brothers for his weakness, yet because of his kind heart he is able to perform three impossible tasks and save all who are in the castle. A sort of Renaissance version of Aesop's "Androcles and the Lion."
A great story of being thoughtful of the animals and people around you. The good will be rewarded. I liked the story and characters in this short fairy tale.
'Was a good moral story. The dwarf helped different animals and finally got the princess but his elder brothers got commoners. So,help the others and get goid results .... Simple!
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.
Three princes go adventuring, hoping to seek their own fortunes. The two older brothers, described as much smarter (although really they are just much more cruel) barely put up with their "dumb" youngest brother. However, when they are given a chance to save three lovely princesses, the youngest brother (as is typical in Brothers Grimm stories) wins, mostly due to his kindness to a colony of ants, a flock of ducks and a hive of bees, who all come to assist at the opportune time.
I have great confidence that this illustrator, given just a tiny bit of free rein, could create something infinitely more interesting than this book. Even as is, the (skillful, but not particularly inventive) illustrations are what carries this rather boring telling of well known tale.
But the title page portrait, of the bee in full crown, is by far the best page of the book.
Another story about how good deeds reap rewards. All of the animals who aided the dwarf came to his aid when he needed them the most.
The other two brothers were turned to marble but luckily for them their brother completed all tasks and they actually benefitted in the end as they got to marry the other two princesses. At least the dwarf became king.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This was a sweet story, although much of a similar trope to the stories the Brothers Grimm wrote. Although repetitive and similar to what has been written before, I found this story enticing and enjoyable. An absolutely wonderful story about karma and how when you do good, good comes back to you.
Not good. Not good at all. I have the whole Grimm collection which means I have even the tales no one heard of. Never heard of this tale and it should have stayed that way. Was very disappointed in how this tale was practically ordinary and like the grimm tales we all know and love.
Go along to get along... show kindness and have friends for help when you need them... and of course, all's well which ends well. Everybody wins... but what's with enchantments which require just the right mix of animals be saved???
And the dwarf married the youngest and the best of the princesses, and was king after her father's death; but his two brothers married the other two sisters.
Be careful of your actions, because, even the smallest creature has a purpose. Help others, because, you will never know when you will need help yourself.
A kind heart treats animals with respect and thus the animals help the person later on. In this case, it's a prince who receives assistance in three tasks, the last of which saves three princesses from a deep sleep. The two older brothers who disrespect life are not severely punished; they marry the other two princesses.
It's a strange tale that feels like a composite of multiple fairy tales. I do like the randomness of the old man. There's no follow up with him, so he's just the quest giver.
This short story is odd in the way that there is little plot and everything turns out alright in the end. It is always true in stories like this that the eldest of the siblings are foolish whereas the youngest is always the most cleavest and is the one to suceed in the task before them. This is a good story and was enjoyable and I would read it again.
Morality Tale - simple man helps bees and bees help him with an otherwise impossible task in return. It pays to be nice/kind even to those who don't seem like they could do anything to help you in return. My edition is in English.
THE QUEEN BEE: One younger brother, a dwarfish brother, is repaid for kindnesses. Very similar to previous stories, but still enjoyable. MORAL: Karma. Do good and you will have a good fate. Your good deeds will be rewarded. [RATING: 3 STARS]