ATU 327B

“Tom Thumb.” Tales of Past Times Written for Children, Charles Perrault, illustrated by John Austen, New York: E.P Dutton and Co., 1923, pp. 53-63.

Anonymous — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 00:23:37 +0000

“Tom Thumb.” Tales of Past Times Written for Children, Charles Perrault, illustrated by John Austen, New York: E.P Dutton and Co., 1923, pp. 53-63. Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 11/17/2022 - 17:23

Charles Perrault

Tale Summary

Once upon a time, there was a poor man and his wife, wood makers by trade, who had seven young boys (the oldest being ten, and the younger being seven years of age). This youngest boy was very small, only being the size of a thumb when he was born (giving him the name Tom Thumb) but was very intelligent. One day during a famine, the man urges his wife that they must get rid of their children in order to survive. Although she protests, she agrees. Tom Thumb overhears this conversation, and the next morning gets up early and collects small white pebbles to fill his pockets. The man and his wife bring the children deep into the forest and abandon them. His siblings cry and fret, but Tom Thumb knows the way back because he has laid a trail of pebbles. The man and his wife, as soon as they get home, receive ten crowns from the lord of the manor which they were owed and were able to buy a large amount of meat to feast on. The woman begs her husband to repent for what they have done and laments for her lost children when they arrive at the door. Sometime later, the money runs out, and once again the man convinces his wife to abandon their children. Tom Thumb overhears this conversation, and the next morning goes out to again search for pebbles but finds that the door is locked. He thinks to use his breakfast instead to leave a trail of breadcrumbs. This does not work, however, as when the children try to find their way back, Tom Thumb realizes that the breadcrumbs have been all eaten by birds. So the children become lost and trek through the forest until they come to a house. A woman greets them, and the children tell her their plight. She weeps, because they are so pitiful and because her husband is an ogre who eats children. Because the children beg, the woman lets them in, thinking she can hide them for one night under the bed. When the ogre comes home he smells fresh meat, and although his wife tries to conceal them, the ogre finds them and decides to eat them the next day while entertaining his friends. Happy with this, he becomes drunk and goes to bed. The ogre has seven daughters, asleep in a bed, each with a golden crown upon her head. The woman puts the seven boys, each with a bonnet on their head, in a bed in the same room. Tom Thumb, fearing that the ogre would kill them as they slept, switched the crowns and bonnets. Sure enough, the drunk ogre comes in, feels for the bonnets, and kills all seven of his daughters. When he leaves again, the children make a run for it. The next day, the wife finds her seven daughters slaughtered, and the ogre swears to get the children, putting on his ‘boots of seven-leagues (which cover seven leagues with each stride), and running off. Tom Thumb hides his siblings under a rock, which the ogre sits on to take a rest and fall asleep on. The children run back to their parent’s house, while Tom Thumb stays and takes the boots, which, because they are fairies, fit themselves to his feet, and runs back to the ogre’s wife. He tells her that her husband has been captured by robbers and that they demand all of his riches in order to release him, so she gives him all that they have. Tom Thumb brings this money back to his parent’s house.

Fairy Tale Title

Thumbling

Fairy Tale Author(s)/Editor(s)

Charles Perrault

Fairy Tale Illustrator(s)

John Austen

Common Tale Type

The Children and the Ogre/Brothers and the Ogre/Boy Steals the Ogre's Treasure

Tale Classification

ATU 327/ATU 327B/ATU 328

Page Range of Tale

pp. 9-12

Full Citation of Tale

“Tom Thumb.” Tales of Past Times Written for Children, Charles Perrault, illustrated by John Austen, New York: E.P Dutton and Co., 1923, pp. 53-63.

Original Source of the Tale

Charles Perrault

Tale Notes

The story gives an alternate ending, which the author seems skeptical of, that Tom Thumb never robbed the ogre, and instead used the seven-league boots to bring news of a far-away army to the King, who in return gave him a large sum of money. He then becomes a famous messenger, amassing wealth, and buys places for his father and brothers at court.

AV��ʪ and Curation

Kaeli Waggener, 2022

Book Title

Tales of Past Times Written for Children

Book Author/Editor(s)

Charles Perrault

Illustrator(s)

John Austen

Publisher

E.P Dutton and Co.

Date Published

1923

Decade Published

1920-1929

Publisher City

New York

Publisher Country

United States

Language

English

Rights

Public Domain

Digital Copy

Available at the CU Digital Library

Book Notes

Traditional

White

"Esben and the Witch." The Pink Fairy Book, edited by Andrew Lang, New York: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1897, pp. 258-273.

Anonymous — Fri, 18 Mar 2022 20:21:26 +0000

"Esben and the Witch." The Pink Fairy Book, edited by Andrew Lang, New York: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1897, pp. 258-273. Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 03/18/2022 - 14:21

Andrew Lang

Tale Summary

There is a family with 12 brothers, 11 who are strong and able and the youngest, a small but smart. One day the 11 oldest wish to make their fortune in the world, and so they ask for a white horse and gold from their aging father and take off. Esben, the youngest, also asks for the same but is denied. He takes off into the forest, finds a white branch and whittles it till it is whiter than the horses and flies off on that after his brothers. The brothers come across an old hag with 12 beautiful daughters who offer them a place to stay. Sneaking into the house at night, Esben wakes all his brothers and tell them to switch their nightcaps for the daughters' nightcaps. Later, the old hag comes with an axe and with little light to see by, chops off the heads that are adorned with the masculine nightcaps. These heads, however, belong to the old hag's daughters. The brothers, seeing these deaths, escape from the witch.

They continue to the king's palace where they all get work as stable boys. A knight named Sir Red feels offended by the brothers and so goes to the king saying that he overheard them talking about a precious dove with feathers of gold and silver. The king brings forth the brothers and bade them to bring the dove to him or they'll lose their heads. Esben comes by when they are all mourning their heads and says he will fix their problem if they only give him some peas. Esben takes those peas to the old hag's home where the dove is and sprinkles the peas on the ground thereby catching the dove and flying off on his white branch. The knight then tells the king that the brothers can procure a boar with gold and silver bristles. The brothers are then commanded to bring the boar or lose their heads. Esben comes by and asks for malt, which he then uses to lure the boar and flies off. Each time he flies off, the witch asks him if it was him that stole the dove, and then the boar, and made her kill her 11 daughters. He says yes and she replies that she'll get him. Next, the brothers have to get the lamp that never burns out from the same old hag. Esben asks for a bushel of salt and sneaks into the house through the chimney. He puts all the salt in the porridge one of the daughters of the hag is making thereby ruining it. She takes the lamp to fetch more water from the well where Esben takes the lamp from her and pushes her down the well, where she drowns. The hag comes running and asks if it was Esben that took the dove and the boar and made her kill 11 daughters and now took her lamp and drowned her 12th daughter. Esben says yes and flies off.

Finally, the brothers are commanded to bring the king a very special coverlet from the witch. Esben sneaks inside the old hag's house but is discovered. The old hag puts Esben in a little dark hole and feeds him sweetmeats and candied nuts to fatten him to be roasted. However, the 13th daughter likes him and doesn't want to eat him. When the hag asks for a finger to test how fat he is, Esben asks the daughter to give her a nail wrapped in skin. The hag thinks he is skin and bones and continues feeding him. By this time the 13th daughter has lost all but one tooth from cracking nuts. The hag asks for a finger again and the daughter gives her a cow’s udder on orders from Esben. The hag has no time to deal with Esben because she has to go to witch church, so she asks her daughter to roast him. The daughter gets the oven spade and asks Esben to sit on it which is does. However, he splays his legs in such a way that the daughter cannot put him into the oven. He asks her to demonstrate how he must sit and when the final daughter sits on the spade, he puts her in the oven to be roasted. He then steals the coverlet and flies off but not before the hag comes shouting if he stole her bird and boar and lamp and drowned one daughter, made her chop off the heads of 11 daughters, and now roasted her final daughter. Esben says y-e-e-s and says he will not be back again and flies off on his branch. The hag becomes so furious she bursts into all the little flint pieces in the country. Esben brings the coverlet to the king who was about to execute the brothers and tells of the knight's deceit, who hangs for his crimes. Esben and the brothers are rewarded handsomely and return home very rich where the brothers tell of all the good things Esben did and he was ignored no longer.

Fairy Tale Title

Esben and the Witch

Fairy Tale Author(s)/Editor(s)

Andrew Lang

Fairy Tale Illustrator(s)

Henry Justice Ford

Common Tale Type

The Brothers and the Ogre

Tale Classification

ATU 327B

Page Range of Tale

pp. 258-273

Full Citation of Tale

"Esben and the Witch." The Pink Fairy Book, edited by Andrew Lang, New York: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1897, pp. 258-273.

Original Source of the Tale

A Danish tale collected by Jens Kamp

Tale Notes

This story includes many familiar fairy tale elements such as a witch/ogre and their treasures, a witch/ogre who accidentally murders their daughters (present in Perrault’s “Hop-o’-my-Thumb” for example), a greedy king, and a witch fattening someone for eating, but getting tricked into the oven to get baked instead (Hansel and Gretel).

AV��ʪ and Curation

Shri Basrur, 2021

Book Title

The Pink Fairy Book

Book Author/Editor(s)

Andrew Lang

Illustrator(s)

Henry Justice Ford

Publisher

Longmans, Green, and Co.

Date Published

1897

Decade Published

1890-1899

Publisher City

New York

Publisher Country

United States

Language

English

Rights

Public Domain

Digital Copy

Available at the Internet Archive

Book Notes

None

Traditional

White

“Hop O’ my Thumb.” George Cruikshank’s Fairy Library, George Cruikshank, London: Routledge and Sons, [1870s], pp. 1-30.

Anonymous — Mon, 20 Dec 2021 17:14:08 +0000

“Hop O’ my Thumb.” George Cruikshank’s Fairy Library, George Cruikshank, London: Routledge and Sons, [1870s], pp. 1-30. Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 12/20/2021 - 10:14

George Cruikshank

Tale Summary

George Cruikshank participated in the Temperance movement, and like other tales in this volume (Cinderella), this version of Hop O’ My Thumb denounces the evils of “strong drink” (alcohol). He also omits the violent scene in which the Ogre kills his own children after being tricked by Hop into thinking they are the 6 brothers. The story begins with a Count who loses all his money by drinking and gambling and must turn to cutting wood in order to support his family. He and his wife the countess have six boys, the smallest one called Hop O My Thumb, or Little Hop. Although tiny, Hop is exceptionally intelligent, sweet, and strong. The count is unable to support his family because he continues to drink and smoke and soon plans to abandon the boys in the woods, rather than watch them starve. Hop overhears the plan and uses white pebbles to mark the way so that the boys are able to return home. After this, the count manages to earn money by writing for a farmer and the family is happy for a while. The mother leaves to find her brother the Baron, and the father resumes drinking and once again abandons the boys in the woods. Hop has used breadcrumbs to mark the trail, but birds eat them. Spying a light in the distance, the boys arrive at the home of a Giantess and her alcoholic, Giant-Ogre husband. The Giantess hides the boys for fear her husband will eat them. When the Giant-Ogre discovers the boys, the wife claims she hid them only to fatten them up and locks them in a room. Hop manages to steal the key and escapes with his brothers. The giant discovers this, dons his seven-league boots, and sets off in pursuit, but falls asleep before finding the boys. Hop steals his boots and brings them to the King, who rewards him and makes the Count his prime minister. All the giants in the land are rounded up and carry out useful labor for the kingdom. Hop’s father the count passes a series of laws outlawing drinking and gambling and promoting public or private education for all children.

Fairy Tale Title

Hop o' my Thumb

Fairy Tale Author(s)/Editor(s)

George Cruikshank

Fairy Tale Illustrator(s)

George Cruikshank

Common Tale Type

The Children and the Ogre/Brothers and the Ogre

Tale Classification

ATU 327/ATU 327B

Page Range of Tale

pp. 1-30

Full Citation of Tale

“Hop O’ my Thumb.” George Cruikshank’s Fairy Library, George Cruikshank, London: Routledge and Sons, [1870s], pp. 1-30.

Original Source of the Tale

Charles Perrault

Tale Notes

Cruikshank created six full-page etchings to accompany the tale of Hop O’ My Thumb that depict nine scenes from the story. Not only does Hop O’ My Thumb leave a trail of white pebbles so he and his brothers can find their way out of the woods, he also marks trees with his knife, a practice Cruikshank says in a note is typical of Native Americans: “This is what Indians do—they notch trees and so find their way through the largest forests” (p. 9). Cruikshank includes comical asides. For example, Hop knows how seven-league boots work because he read about them in a book acquired from London printer and bookseller, Mr David Brogue of 86 Fleet Street.

AV��ʪ and Curation

Nate Jones, 2020

Book Title

George Cruikshank's Fairy Library

Book Author/Editor(s)

George Cruikshank

Illustrator(s)

George Cruikshank

Publisher

Routledge and Sons

Date Published

1870-1879

Decade Published

1870-1879

Publisher City

London

Publisher Country

United Kingdom

Language

English

Rights

Public Domain

Digital Copy

Available at the CU Digital Library

Book Notes

With each tale in this book, the page numbers restart.

Traditional

White

Perrault, Charles. “Hop-o’-my-Thumb.” Old French Fairy Tales, Boston: Little, Brown, and Company, 1899, pp. 342-358.

Anonymous — Mon, 23 Aug 2021 20:36:31 +0000

Perrault, Charles. “Hop-o’-my-Thumb.” Old French Fairy Tales, Boston: Little, Brown, and Company, 1899, pp. 342-358. Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 08/23/2021 - 14:36

Charles Perrault

Tale Summary

Seven siblings are born no more than three years apart into a poor family in which the youngest boy, named Hop-O’-My-Thumb, is deemed a weakly little fellow, but in fact, is actually the smartest in the group. His woodcutting parents are too poor to keep all of the children, so they leave them lost in the woods. Hop-O’-My-Thumb leads the children out of the cold, dark woods to a child-eating Ogre’s house. The Ogre’s wife tries to hide the children inside, but the Ogre finds them and allows them to sleep one night before being eaten. Afraid of being slaughtered by the Ogre during the night, Hop-O’-My-Thumb switches the caps of the seven siblings with the crowns of the seven Ogresses. The Ogre mistakenly cuts the throats of the Ogresses and goes on a hunt in magical seven-league boots to kill the children. Hop-O’-My-Thumb steals the boots off of the Ogre when he is sleeping in the woods and tricks the Ogre’s wife into believing that the Ogre had been taken hostage and he needed all of her riches to save her husband. Hop-O’-My-Thumb brought home the wealth and lived happily ever after with a nobleman’s daughter.

Fairy Tale Title

Hop-o'-my-Thumb

Fairy Tale Author(s)/Editor(s)

Charles Perrault

Fairy Tale Illustrator(s)

None listed

Common Tale Type

The Children and the Ogre/Brothers and the Ogre

Tale Classification

ATU 327/ATU 327B

Page Range of Tale

pp. 342-358

Full Citation of Tale

Perrault, Charles. “Hop-o’-my-Thumb.” Old French Fairy Tales, Boston: Little, Brown, and Company, 1899, pp. 342-358.

Original Source of the Tale

Charles Perrault

Tale Notes

This richly illustrated edition of Hop-O’-My-Thumb includes six black and white images. The text is directed towards younger children. In the preface, Mary Howitt writes that “The gist of every fairy tale is the triumph of the weak over the strong—an overruling principle of justice and mercy, which will, in the end, set all things right; and so far they are full of truth .” In this version, Hop-O’-My-Thumb uses his wits to trick a hungry and angry Ogre into killing his daughters, seven Ogresses. Hop-O’-My-Thumb steals magical seven league boots from the Ogre and uses them to bring riches to his poor family.

AV��ʪ and Curation

RJ McLennan, 2020

Book Title

Old French Fairy Tales

Book Author/Editor(s)

Charles Perrault, Madame D'Aulnoy, etc.

Illustrator(s)

"Two hundred illustrations by the most celebrated French artists"

Publisher

Little, Brown, and Company

Date Published

1899

Decade Published

1890-1899

Publisher City

Boston

Publisher Country

United States

Language

English

Rights

Public Domain

Digital Copy

Available at the CU Digital Library

Book Notes

None

Traditional

White