Rumpelstiltsken

by Bernadette Watts (Illustrator), Jacob Grimm, Wilhelm Grimm

When the king charges the miller’s beautififul daughter with spinning straw into gold she makes an ill-advised deal with the cunning Rumpelstiltskin.

Genres: Classics, Childrens, Fantasy, Short Stories, Fairy Tales, Fiction, Picture Books

32 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Carlos De Eguiluz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Otra pequeña joya de los maravillosos hermanos Grimm.

"Una criatura viviente es más preciosa para mí que los mayores tesoros de este mundo."

[Manybooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

1993 PICTURE BOOK TRANSLATED BY ANTHEA BELL AND ILLUSTRATED BY BERNADETTE WATTS

I often have serious aesthetic issues with in particular some of the picture books and even more so many of the graphic novels regarding Jakob and Wilhelm Grimm's Märchen (folktale) Rumpelstilzchen (or Rumplestilstkin in English translation). For yes, while I have never (even when I as a very young child had Rumpelstilzchen repeatedly read to me by my parents and grandparents) found the imp who at first helps the miller's daughter but finally and cruelly demands her newborn child as payment (for doing her task of spinning straw into gold) all that textually off-putting, well, how in far too many picture books and graphic novels Rumpelstilzchen is depicted, is illustrated as looking majorly and horrifyingly devilish (often red, black or even green skinned and with massively grotesque facial features), this frankly tends to rather creep me out, it makes me visually uncomfortable and potentially even more than a trifle frightened. And furthermore, illustrations of an intensely and all encompassingly evilly scary looking Rumpelstilzchen also and annoyingly visually render him (yes, him) much more nasty and horrifying than the in my not so humble opinion main and true villains in Rumpelstilzchen, namely the moronic father who brags that his daughter can spin straw into gold and even more so the disgustingly greedy and dictatorial king who not only demands that the miller's daughter weave straw into gold but also then threatens her with execution, with death if she should be unable to satisfactorily complete said task, and not to mention that if I were the miller's daughter, I would absolutely not be willing and able to trust a creature looking like something straight out of Hell or a horror movie (I would be far too horrified to accept help from a Rumpelstilzchen looking like a miniature but evil and scary looking monstrosity).

Therefore and with the above in mind, yes indeed, I really do hugely and massively appreciate that for the picture book Rumpelstiltskin: A Fairy Tale (1993) illustrator Bernadette Watts (whose artwork for Rumpelstiltskin: A Fairy Tale is nicely colourful and imaginatively realistic in visual scope) does NOT depict her Rumpelstilzchen as looking in any way physically repellent, but instead has rendered him rather cleverly trickster-like (and clad in green like a tiny hunter) but generally aesthetically pleasant enough and certainly not monstrous or creepily frightening in physical appearance (and that this makes Watts' pictures of Rumpelstilzchen not overly and exaggeratedly uncanny and also at least for me really nicely reflect and mirror the story of Rumpelstilzchen as well and why the miller's daughter at first trusts the imp and accepts his help with the spinning task, since Rumpelstilzchen both talks pleasantly and empathetically to her and also appears as quite unfrightenning, as not overly or inherently creepy). But although Bernadette Watts does not really depict the king as looking all that greedy and gold obsessed in Rumpelstiltskin: A Fairy Tale (which I do think would be a nice and justified visual touch), having both the miller and the monarch look rather if not even majorly blankly unintelligent and dimwitted in their facial expressions and that there is also nothing even remotely physically regal with how the king is being depicted by Watts in Rumpelstiltskin: A Fairy Tale, yes, for me, this nicely reflects the story, this very much aesthetically shows that the miller and even more so the monarch leave pretty much everything to be desired in Rumpelstilzchen (and are thus really the main cause for the miller's daughter's troubles and having to turn to an it turns out quite malevolent imp for help, for assistance).

Now finally (but of course also hugely and majorly importantly), with regard to Anthea Bell's translation of Rumpelstilzchen from Jakob and Wilhelm Grimm's German text into English, yes, Bell's featured story, her words for Rumpelstiltskin: A Fairy Tale are delightfully and totally faithful to the Brothers Grimm original, retaining ALL of their contents (as well as the thematics) regarding Rumpelstilzchen but that Anthea Bell is skilfully also not making her text for Rumpelstiltskin: A Fairy Tale a word-for-word and as such awkwardly slavish translation either, that she renders Rumpelstilzchen into English without making the end result be feel and read haltingly or pedantically. And that thus, for me (and in particular for my inner child), Rumpelstiltskin: A Fairy Tale textually sounds like simply a wonderful and enchanting story in and of itself, a lovely and engaging combination of text and images that equally warrants a solid five star rating (but indeed, still unfortunately lowered to four stars, albeit although I no longer am expecting that the picture books of the Brothers Grimm Märchen illustrated by Bernadette Watts will be including detailed author's notes, I am still disappointed regarding their absence and am missing this).

[Neon · Rating 1 out of 5]

The kindle version did not translate well.

[Saffron Moon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This rating is for the edition adapted and translated by Anthea Bell and illustrated by Bernadette Watts.

[Jinx:The:Poet {the LiteraryWanderer & WordRoamer} · Rating 5 out of 5]

RUMPELSTILTSKIN: A beautiful girl is imprisoned by a greedy king, after her proud father boasts she can spin straw into gold. A mysterious dwarfish being aids her for favors. She agrees to give him her first child. MORAL: Uhhh, Don’t take advantage of little men? And perhaps, don’t make promises and bargains you don’t intend to keep. [RATING: 5 STARS]

[❆ Crystal ❆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars

[Amina (ⴰⵎⵉⵏⴰ) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't which one of the two I should call stupid.. maybe both --'

[Mayra · Rating 2 out of 5]

What nonsense is this, good lord??

[Midiam Daniela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Que random jaja

[Ietrio · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't get it: why do people insist reading this horrible stories to the children. Probably it is just a habit: they were read to them and they do the ritual all over without really caring for the values they are teaching.

This story teaches how you have to be stupid and accept any deal. It teaches how cheating is good as long as you can invent a noble escape clause. It teaches how stealing is desirable if one feels it is necessary. Somehow people think all these are bad when they are on the losing side. So read the story to young children!

[Vaishali · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always feel so sorry for the talented dwarf :(

[Katrina♡•• · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read a book starting with 'R'
Read for Owls Magical Readaton via audiobook
A bit creepy and kinda too short

[Amie · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this traditional tale by the Brothers Grimm, a miller's daughter is asked to do the unthinkable by the king- spin straw into gold by the morning's light or she will die. When a strange little man comes to help her the first night, she gives him her beaded necklace, the second night, her ring, and on the third night she promises her firstborn child in exchange for his help. The miller's daughter is made queen because of her talent, has a baby and forgets all about the strange little man until he comes back one night requesting her child. She weeps and weeps until the man takes pity on her and makes her a bargain: If she can guess his name with in three days, she can keep her child.
Most of you know the ending to this story, but for a child hearing or reading it for the first time, it is filled with unknowns. Will she find out his name or will he take her child? While I grew up very familiar with Rumpelstiltskin, this story hasn't been as marketable in recent years as other fairytales, such as Cinderella or Little Red Riding Hood. It would be interesting to see what children today think of Rumpelstiltskin. Is he an evil trickster who may or may not want to have a baby for his supper, or is he a man who helped a girl in her time of need and now wants what is rightfully his?
This faithful translation illustrated by Bernadette Watts has a very romantic feel. Warm colors and soft features throughout allow the readers to go back to the time of magical creatures. Rumpelstiltskin isn't shown as a ugly troll, but a merry little elf with rosy cheeks. K-3 would enjoy this as a read aloud, while 2-5 could enjoy this independently.

[Fiza · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked it. Good for a one time read.

[Erik Olson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A man seeks a better life for his daughter and lies to the king stating that she can turn straw to gold. The woman does this with the help of a Rumpelstiltskin after promising her firstborn son. When the time comes to to deliver the promise, she has to discover the creatures name in three days of the child will be lost. Clear themes of making promises, cutting deals and lying. More subtle is the concept that women did not have the same power as men but indeed had some form of power. Not able to given life, it is the woman's child Rumpelstiltskin craves. She is able to exercise social connections to procure the creatures name. The graphics a simple and convey the story but do not TELL the story as is typical of graphic novels.

[ale (taylor's version) everett · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Hoy tomo vino,
y mañana cerveza,
después al niño sin falta traerán.
Nunca, se rompan o no la cabeza,
el nombre Rumpelstiltskin adivinarán!"

Me encantó esta historia porque habla de Rumpelstiltskin, porque yo veo Once Upon a Time y quería conocer la historia de este personaje.
Y que cosa que en esta historia Rumpel quería robar el primogénito de la hija del molinero, y en la serie:
hasta donde va la cosa, Hades robará el hijo de Rumpel con Bella si no hace lo que él quiere
la hija del molinero es Regina aka la reina malvada
JAJAJA
Los escritores de OUAT haciendo su magia ;)

[DeAndrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a classic well-known story. This was a story that I heard through-out my childhood so much, I mean who wasn't heard this story of the little goblin, that stamps his foot through the floor? Reading this story again, brought back so many memories of my childhood. Now I must say that I didn’t remember the ending being as violent as this book states. I would recommend this book to be read by all. Like I stated earlier its a classic.

[Kevin Hull · Rating 4 out of 5]

It should be noted that the Brothers Grimm didn't pen many original stories, if any. Instead they collected folk tales and rewrote them with a Germanic slant. As such this is not among the best, though it still is an interesting read. And it did provide the basis for the coolest character on the show Once Upon A Time, so that's gotta count for something.

[Khaztiel Delbod Denver · Rating 3 out of 5]

Es un modo diferente de conocer historias de hadas aunque en este relato el villano en realidad no existe porque en perspectiva Rumpelstiltskin no era malo sólo era un buen negociante y la doncella sólo trataba de seguir viviendo apesar de dar a su primogénito como pago.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

My favorite line --"Then, in his rage, he seized his left foot in both hands and tore himself in two."

[Safae · Rating 5 out of 5]

rumple is actually one of my favorite characters in once upon a time , but he is way smarter than the one in here .

[Wilma Monica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I dont get a thing.. is Rumpelstiltskin good or bad ? The king is good or bad??

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

At a Glance:
Genre: Traditional Literature: Fairy Tale, International Literature
Format: Picture Book, Audio Read Aloud
Age Range: 5-8
Themes: Mistakes, Greed, Power, Making Promises
Acquisition: Media Search/YouTube
Spoiler Alert Rating: 9/10

Versions of Rumpelstiltskin abound through history, but the most well-known is likely this translated tale by the Brothers Grimm. The story opens with a miller who brags to the king with the preposterous claim, “I have a daughter who can spin straw into gold.” The king invites the daughter to his palace—and locks her in a room full of straw and a spinning wheel demanding she turn the straw into gold by morning or she “will die.” Enter Rumpelstiltskin, a troll-like “little man” that just happens to possess the skill the miller’s daughter needs to survive. He agrees to spin the straw into gold in exchange for her necklace. She complies.

The greedy king is not satisfied. He wants more and more gold. Before long the miller’s daughter agrees to give up her first born child to Rumpelstiltskin without question. He spins more and more straw into gold. The miller’s daughter becomes the queen! Oddly, the king quickly abandons his quest for gold and the miller’s daughter, turned queen, has a baby now bequeathed to the little man! Rumpelstiltskin grants her a reprieve from her promise, but only if she can guess his name.

Viewed on YouTube, the light pastel illustrations on a white backdrop provided the “fairy tale” feel to enhance the reading. Rumpelstiltskin is portrayed as elfin, as in many editions, and the king appears quite young, perhaps to make what would be considered an appropriate match for the miller’s daughter. The text is spoken by a reader with a primary language other than English, though the words are understood and infused with emotions and the meaning of the tale comes through. This particular edition seems to be out of print and limited resources are available.

Teacher considerations:

Discussion: Gender Roles & Character Motivations/Flaws: For older students, the text provides a strong foundation for analyzing the character motivations and flaws, along with gender roles for the four characters: the miller, the miller’s daughter, the king, and Rumpelstiltskin, that may help develop reasoning skills for more complex texts. Why would the miller make such a claim about his daughter to place her in danger? Why would a king indulge such a foolish claim? Why would the miller’s daughter follow her father’s impossible request and why would she want to marry a king that threatened to kill her? If Rumpelstiltskin is an evil character, why would he offer the miller’s daughter a second chance? Why is Rumpelstiltskin the only character identified by name? These questions and others will allow students to question texts and develop recognition for author’s bias and stereotyped characters in literature.

Text Structure: Problem and Solution: With the multiple problems and solutions repeating through the text, two major problems present, both with a sequence of solutions. This provides a more complex analysis of the problem-solution text structure for students that had been previously introduced to a text with a single problem and solution. In the first sequence, the miller’s daughter gives Rumpelstiltskin her necklace, then ring, then a promise of her first born if he spins the straw into gold for the king. In the second sequence, after becoming the queen, she does not want to give up her baby, and makes multiple attempts at guessing Rumpelstiltskin’s name. She begins with simple names and, after a search for names through the kingdom, she attempts more unusual names. Finally, she sends out a messenger that happened upon “the little man,” dancing and chanting aloud his name…Rumpelstiltskin.

Notes: Translated from the German, this edition of Rumpelstiltskin holds the content and the style of the classic tale by the Brothers Grimm. Many retellings omit the lines “Today I brew, tomorrow I bake” implying that the “little man” is planning to dine on the baby. Included in this text, these lines are significant in revealing character motivations unclear in alternate versions which obscure the reason as to why Rumpelstiltskin would desire a baby in the first place. Theories abound from greed (Rumpelstiltskin solely wants the baby because it is the very thing the miller’s daughter cherishes most) to companionship. While these motivations are cruel, eating the baby is surely more horrific and provides an added layer of urgency to the text.

Illustrator: Bernadette Watts has received many positive reviews for her illustrations of folk and fairy tales spanning a 50-year career that began with a love of drawing from childhood. Hailing from England, she studied under children’s illustrator Brian Wildsmith and modern artist David Hockney. Bright, bold colors and fine details with a surreal, magical quality support the genre and pull readers into a variety of traditional tales from the Brothers Grimm, Aesop, and Hans Christian Anderson.

References:
Nitawahyu, W. F. and H. L. (2020, October 22). Reading 'Brothers Grimm's Rumpelstiltskin'. YouTube. Retrieved November 13, 2021, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbLYZ....

[Marcus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another "first born baby" pact is made but the mendacious manekin just can't keep his name to himself. All the drama comes from a father boasting that his daughter can weave straw into gold when she can't.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read

[Jessy · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

what a little freak

[Jaye Latts · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, that was creepy! This is the first time I read this as an adult. It was okay, but I don't see that there's any moral to the story.

[Joseph Knecht · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you can turn straws into gold, you'd better have a special name.

Can you guess the name?

[Cal Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

.·:*¨༺ Fairytale series No.1 - Rumpelstiltskin ༻¨*:·.

"Rumpelstiltskin" is one of those timeless fairy tales that crop up from our childhoods in the form of appropriations or subtle references ( who hasn’t seen Shrek?). Even now, it continues to appear on children’s bookshelves – more revised than ever.

Rumpelstiltskin weaves a mesmerising narrative filled with themes of greed, desperation, and the consequences of making hasty deals with strangers. Upon re-reading the story in 'Children's and Household Tales', the dark and violent depictions really stood out, which led me to think about today’s standards of children’s fiction.

Many parents are under the sad spell of reality that they’d hate to pass on to their children. Of course, you would love to share all the sunshine and rainbows of the world… but that entitlement to happy endings serves no purpose in stories designed to assist children in navigating life. Whether you like it or not, children will grow up in the same world we live in, so why shouldn't they be exposed to the cosmic horror that is our reality? Of course, that is an incredibly cynical way of looking at it. It can be absolutely beautiful, but we cannot simply deny them both perspectives. These stories are told using folklore and whimsical themes, but how different in
danger is a creepy fictional Fey from a very real and strange man in the woods?

Back to the review!

There’s something undeniably eerie about Rumpelstiltskin. The character is so childlike yet very cunning, which creates this unsettling contrast. His violent fate of a rage-induced, accidental suicide - really shatters that ‘happy ending’ expectation many have with fairytales. He is unstable and rather clumsy (revealing his own name while bragging), and that inhuman strength partnered with his instability is terrifying.

‘Deals’ and ‘contracts’ are motifs that crop up quite a bit in tales, and they remind me of all the depictions of the biblical devil. Signing a contract with a demon or fiend—means sacrificing something that you cherish (firstborn, soul, etc.). I really enjoy the idea that magic always comes with a price.

Another thing I enjoyed was the fact that only Rumpelstiltskin has a name in this tale – ironically, it’s his name with all the power; names carry power in Faerie lore, and knowing his name leads the contract to be fulfilled.

Personally, I believe the moral lesson here is to live life with humility and honesty. The miller’s arrogance led to this tale, and Rumpelstiltskin's gloating led to the daughter finding out his name and, ultimately, his rather bloody tantrum.

Cal x

[RLL22018_ Joshlyn Baptist · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rumpelstiltskin, a poor old miller offers his daughter to the King by falsely claiming his daughter can turn straw into gold. When put to the test to come up with some gold, she obviously could not do it. She offered a deal with a little man, who claims that he’s able to turn spin the straw into gold only if she gives him her necklace. Soon after the king discovered the room full of gold and then moves her into a bigger room full of straw to spin more gold or she dies the next day. Once again the little man interrupts the weeping girl to help spin the straw into gold in exchange for her ring. The day after the king discovers more gold he moves the girl into the biggest room in his palace to spin more straw into gold and if she does he’ll marry her and if she doesn’t she'll die. The little man returns once more to spin all of the straw into gold, but unfortunately the girl has nothing in return to give. The little man says in return he wants he first born child, and so she agrees to it because she doesn't want to die and literally has nothing else to offer. Later on she’s married to the king and live happily as the years go by. Years go on and finally give birth to her firstborn, forgetting the deal she once made with the little man years prior. When the little man comes back for the baby she cries and begs him not to take her baby away, and he informs he that in order for her to keep her baby is to guess his name in three days. All guesses were unsuccessful, until a messenger followed the little man and discovered his name was Rumpelstiltskin. She then “guesses” his name correctly and gets to keep her baby. I think this book would hold interest to readers for the overall story, it’s a pretty mature story and the graphics are laid out in an organized way. Out of all these years I still can't make sense of what Rumpelstiltskin's intentions were with taking the girl’s child in the first place, but I digress. I personally would use different variant for theatrical purposes in the classroom, I think it’d be fun tool to use. I personally would use a different version of the story simply because it’s a bit creepy, and it teaches certain things that I feel younger learners shouldn’t be exposed to. This books teaches us about lying, tricky dealing and cheating. Nevertheless, it’s an old time favorite.