Eve’s Various Children - Fairy Tale by the Brothers Grimm

Reading time for children: 6 min

When Adam and Eve were driven out of Paradise, they were compelled to build a house for themselves on unfruitful ground, and eat their bread in the sweat of their brow. Adam dug up the land, and Eve span. Every year Eve brought a child into the world; but the children were unlike each other, some pretty, and some ugly. After a considerable time had gone by, God sent an angel to them, to announce that he was coming to inspect their household. Eve, delighted that the Lord should be so gracious, cleaned her house diligently, decked it with flowers, and strewed reeds on the floor. Then she brought in her children, but only the beautiful ones. She washed and bathed them, combed their hair, put clean raiment on them, and cautioned them to conduct themselves decorously and modestly in the presence of the Lord. They were to bow down before him civilly, hold out their hands, and to answer his questions modestly and sensibly. The ugly children were, however, not to let themselves be seen. One hid himself beneath the hay, another under the roof, a third in the straw, the fourth in the stove, the fifth in the cellar, the sixth under a tub, the seventh beneath the wine-cask, the eighth under an old fur cloak, the ninth and tenth beneath the cloth out of which she always made their clothes, and the eleventh and twelfth under the leather out of which she cut their shoes. She had scarcely got ready, before there was a knock at the house-door. Adam looked through a chink, and saw that it was the Lord. Adam opened the door respectfully, and the Heavenly Father entered. There, in a row, stood the pretty children, and bowed before him, held out their hands, and knelt down. The Lord, however, began to bless them, laid his hands on the first, and said, „Thou shalt be a powerful king;“ and to the second, „Thou a prince,“ to the third, „Thou a count,“ to the fourth, „Thou a knight,“ to the fifth, „Thou a nobleman,“ to the sixth, „Thou a burgher,“ to the seventh, „Thou a merchant,“ to the eighth, „Thou a learned man.“ He bestowed upon them also all his richest blessings. When Eve saw that the Lord was so mild and gracious, she thought, „I will bring hither my ill-favoured children also, it may be that he will bestow his blessing on them likewise.“ So she ran and brought them out of the hay, the straw, the stove, and wherever else she had concealed them. Then came the whole coarse, dirty, shabby, sooty band. The Lord smiled, looked at them all, and said, „I will bless these also.“ He laid his hands on the first, and said to him, „Thou shalt be a peasant,“ to the second, „Thou a fisherman,“ to the third, „Thou a smith,“ to the fourth, „Thou a tanner,“ to the fifth, „Thou a weaver,“ to the sixth, Thou a shoemaker,“ to the seventh, „Thou a tailor,“ to the eighth, „Thou a potter,“ to the ninth, „Thou a waggoner,“ to the tenth, „Thou a sailor,“ to the eleventh, „Thou an errand-boy,“ to the twelfth, „Thou a scullion all the days of thy life.“

When Eve had heard all this she said, „Lord, how unequally thou dividest thy gifts! After all they are all of them my children, whom I have brought into the world, thy favours should be given to all alike.“ But God answered, „Eve, thou dost not understand. It is right and necessary that the entire world should be supplied from thy children. If they were all princes and lords, who would grow corn, thresh it, grind and bake it? Who would be blacksmiths, weavers, carpenters, masons, labourers, tailors and seamstresses? Each shall have his own place, so that one shall support the other, and all shall be fed like the limbs of one body.“ Then Eve answered, „Ah, Lord, forgive me, I was too quick in speaking to thee. Have thy divine will with my children.“

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Backgrounds to fairy tale „Eve’s Various Children“

„Eve’s Various Children,“ also known as „Eve’s Unequal Children,“ is a lesser-known fairy tale collected by the Brothers Grimm and numbered KHM 147 in their collection „Kinder- und Hausmärchen“ (Children’s and Household Tales). Like other tales in their collection, this story has its origins in European folklore and oral storytelling traditions.

The story of „Eve’s Various Children“ involves a conversation between Eve, the biblical first woman, and God. One day, God comes to visit Eve and asks to see her children. Eve presents only her beautiful and well-groomed children to God, hiding her less attractive and ungainly children out of shame.

God, being omniscient, is aware of the hidden children and asks Eve if she has more children. When Eve denies it, God declares that the hidden children will remain hidden from her as well, as a punishment for her dishonesty. These hidden children become the various supernatural creatures of the world, such as elves, goblins, and fairies, who remain unseen by humans. The beautiful children that Eve presented to God go on to populate the Earth as human beings.

This story offers a unique origin tale for the supernatural creatures often found in folklore and mythology. It emphasizes the importance of honesty and the consequences of deception, even in the face of shame or embarrassment. Although it is not as well-known as other Grimm fairy tales, „Eve’s Various Children“ provides an interesting explanation for the existence of supernatural beings and the importance of honesty in one’s relationship with the divine.

Interpretations to fairy tale „Eve’s Various Children“

„Eve’s Various Children,“ also known as „Eve’s Unequal Children,“ is a lesser-known Brothers Grimm fairy tale that presents an origin story for supernatural creatures and a moral lesson about honesty. Here are some interpretations of the story:

Origin of supernatural beings:
The tale provides a unique explanation for the existence of supernatural creatures like elves, goblins, and fairies. By connecting their origins to Eve and her hidden children, the story links folklore and mythology to biblical tradition. This blending of religious and folkloric elements was a common aspect of European storytelling in the past.

Honesty and consequences of deception:
The central theme of „Eve’s Various Children“ is the importance of honesty and the consequences of dishonesty. When Eve tries to deceive God by hiding her less attractive children, she faces a punishment: her hidden children become supernatural beings who remain unseen by humans. This lesson demonstrates the significance of being truthful, even in situations where it may be uncomfortable or difficult.

Acceptance and love for all children:
Another interpretation of the story is the importance of accepting and loving all children, regardless of their appearance or abilities. By hiding her less attractive children, Eve shows a lack of love and acceptance for them. The story suggests that all children, regardless of their differences, deserve love and care, and that discrimination can lead to negative consequences.

Connection to other cultural traditions:
„Eve’s Various Children“ can also be seen as an example of the cross-cultural connections between different storytelling traditions. By incorporating biblical characters and themes alongside elements of European folklore, the story highlights the ways in which different cultural narratives can intertwine and influence one another.

In conclusion, „Eve’s Various Children“ offers a unique origin story for supernatural beings while also conveying moral lessons about honesty and acceptance. The tale demonstrates the blending of religious and folkloric elements, reflecting the rich and complex history of European storytelling traditions.

Adaptions of the fairy tale „Eve’s Various Children“

„Eve’s Various Children,“ also known as „Eve’s Unequal Children,“ is a lesser-known fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm, which means it has not received as much attention or as many adaptations as some of their more famous works. However, there have been a few instances of adaptations and retellings that incorporate this story:

Book retellings and adaptations:
The story has been retold and included in various collections of Brothers Grimm fairy tales. These collections often feature new translations or illustrations that help modern readers connect with the story. Some examples include „Grimm’s Complete Fairy Tales“ (Canterbury Classics) and „The Complete Grimm’s Fairy Tales“ (Pantheon Books), which feature the story among their collections.

Animated adaptations:
Though there are no major animated adaptations of „Eve’s Various Children,“ smaller studios or independent animators may have created short adaptations that can be found on platforms like YouTube. These adaptations often focus on the story’s themes of honesty and acceptance and may be used as educational tools for children.

Theater and live performances:
„Eve’s Various Children“ may be adapted for the stage as part of a larger collection of Grimm’s fairy tales or as an individual performance. These adaptations can involve live actors, puppetry, or other forms of theater to bring the story to life for audiences, emphasizing the tale’s moral lessons about honesty and acceptance.

Art and illustrations:
Artists may have drawn inspiration from „Eve’s Various Children“ to create visual representations of the story, often focusing on the supernatural beings that emerge from the hidden children. These illustrations can be found in various books, art collections, or online galleries.

While „Eve’s Various Children“ has not received the same level of attention or adaptations as some of the more well-known Grimm fairy tales, it still offers an interesting origin story for supernatural creatures and an important lesson about honesty. These adaptations and retellings help keep the story alive and introduce it to new generations of readers and viewers.

Adaptions of the fairy tale „Eve’s Various Children“

The fairy tale „Eve’s Various Children“ or „The Twelve Brothers“ by the Brothers Grimm has inspired many adaptations over the years. Here are a few examples:

„The Wild Swans“ by Hans Christian Andersen: This fairy tale by Andersen has many similarities to „Eve’s Various Children,“ including the themes of sibling loyalty and transformation through nature. In „The Wild Swans,“ a young princess must save her brothers, who have been turned into swans by an evil sorceress.

„The 12 Brothers“ (2014): This German film adaptation of the fairy tale updates the story to a modern setting, where the 12 brothers are football players who must overcome personal and professional challenges to save their team.

„Brothers Grimm“ (2005): This fantasy film directed by Terry Gilliam includes a segment based on „Eve’s Various Children,“ where the brothers are transformed into ravens instead of living as wild men.

„The Twelve Dancing Princesses“ by the Brothers Grimm: This fairy tale has many similarities to „Eve’s Various Children,“ including the themes of sibling loyalty and a group of siblings facing challenges together. In „The Twelve Dancing Princesses,“ twelve princesses must solve a mystery involving their nightly disappearances.

„The 12 Brothers“ (2007): This German animated film adaptation of the fairy tale features a group of brothers who must use their individual strengths to save their kingdom from an evil sorcerer.

These are just a few examples of the many adaptations of „Eve’s Various Children“ or „The Twelve Brothers“ that have been created over the years. The enduring popularity of this classic fairy tale is a testament to its timeless themes and engaging characters.

Summary of the plot

„Eve’s Various Children,“ also known as „Eve’s Unequal Children,“ is a lesser-known fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm that presents an origin story for supernatural creatures and a moral lesson about honesty.

The story begins with God visiting Eve and asking to see all her children. Eve, however, only presents her beautiful and well-groomed children, hiding her less attractive and ungainly children out of shame. God, being all-knowing, is aware of the hidden children and asks Eve if she has any more children. When Eve denies this, God declares that since she chose to hide them, they will remain hidden from her and other humans as punishment for her dishonesty.

As a result, the hidden children become various supernatural creatures, such as elves, goblins, and fairies, who remain unseen by humans. The beautiful children that Eve presented to God go on to populate the Earth as human beings.

The tale serves as an origin story for supernatural beings found in folklore and mythology, and it highlights the importance of honesty and the consequences of deception.

Informations for scientific analysis