Reading time for children: 9 min
A farmer had a faithful and diligent servant, who had worked hard for him three years, without having been paid any wages. At last it came into the man’s head that he would not go on thus without pay any longer; so he went to his master, and said, „I have worked hard for you a long time, I will trust to you to give me what I deserve to have for my trouble.“ The farmer was a sad miser, and knew that his man was very simple-hearted; so he took out threepence, and gave him for every year’s service a penny. The poor fellow thought it was a great deal of money to have, and said to himself, „Why should I work hard, and live here on bad fare any longer? I can now travel into the wide world, and make myself merry.“ With that he put his money into his purse, and set out, roaming over hill and valley.
As he jogged along over the fields, singing and dancing, a little dwarf met him, and asked him what made him so merry. „Why, what should make me down-hearted?“ said he; „I am sound in health and rich in purse, what should I care for? I have saved up my three years“ earnings and have it all safe in my pocket.“ „How much may it come to?“ said the little man. „Full threepence,“ replied the countryman. „I wish you would give them to me,“ said the other; „I am very poor.“ Then the man pitied him, and gave him all he had; and the little dwarf said in return, „As you have such a kind honest heart, I will grant you three wishes–one for every penny; so choose whatever you like.“ Then the countryman rejoiced at his good luck, and said, „I like many things better than money: first, I will have a bow that will bring down everything I shoot at; secondly, a fiddle that will set everyone dancing that hears me play upon it; and thirdly, I should like that everyone should grant what I ask.“ The dwarf said he should have his three wishes; so he gave him the bow and fiddle, and went his way.
Our honest friend journeyed on his way too; and if he was merry before, he was now ten times more so. He had not gone far before he met an old miser: close by them stood a tree, and on the topmost twig sat a thrush singing away most joyfully. „Oh, what a pretty bird!“ said the miser; „I would give a great deal of money to have such a one.“ „If that’s all,“ said the countryman, „I will soon bring it down.“ Then he took up his bow, and down fell the thrush into the bushes at the foot of the tree. The miser crept into the bush to find it; but directly he had got into the middle, his companion took up his fiddle and played away, and the miser began to dance and spring about, capering higher and higher in the air. The thorns soon began to tear his clothes till they all hung in rags about him, and he himself was all scratched and wounded, so that the blood ran down. „Oh, for heaven’s sake!“ cried the miser, „Master! master! pray let the fiddle alone. What have I done to deserve this?“ „Thou hast shaved many a poor soul close enough,“ said the other; „thou art only meeting thy reward“: so he played up another tune. Then the miser began to beg and promise, and offered money for his liberty; but he did not come up to the musician’s price for some time, and he danced him along brisker and brisker, and the miser bid higher and higher, till at last he offered a round hundred of florins that he had in his purse, and had just gained by cheating some poor fellow. When the countryman saw so much money, he said, „I will agree to your proposal.“ So he took the purse, put up his fiddle, and travelled on very pleased with his bargain.
Meanwhile the miser crept out of the bush half-naked and in a piteous plight, and began to ponder how he should take his revenge, and serve his late companion some trick. At last he went to the judge, and complained that a rascal had robbed him of his money, and beaten him into the bargain; and that the fellow who did it carried a bow at his back and a fiddle hung round his neck. Then the judge sent out his officers to bring up the accused wherever they should find him; and he was soon caught and brought up to be tried.
The miser began to tell his tale, and said he had been robbed of his money. „No, you gave it me for playing a tune to you.“ said the countryman; but the judge told him that was not likely, and cut the matter short by ordering him off to the gallows.
So away he was taken; but as he stood on the steps he said, „My Lord Judge, grant me one last request.“ „Anything but thy life,“ replied the other. „No,“ said he, „I do not ask my life; only to let me play upon my fiddle for the last time.“ The miser cried out, „Oh, no! no! for heaven’s sake don“t listen to him! don“t listen to him!“ But the judge said, „It is only this once, he will soon have done.“ The fact was, he could not refuse the request, on account of the dwarf’s third gift.
Then the miser said, „Bind me fast, bind me fast, for pity’s sake.“ But the countryman seized his fiddle, and struck up a tune, and at the first note judge, clerks, and jailer were in motion; all began capering, and no one could hold the miser. At the second note the hangman let his prisoner go, and danced also, and by the time he had played the first bar of the tune, all were dancing together–judge, court, and miser, and all the people who had followed to look on. At first the thing was merry and pleasant enough; but when it had gone on a while, and there seemed to be no end of playing or dancing, they began to cry out, and beg him to leave off; but he stopped not a whit the more for their entreaties, till the judge not only gave him his life, but promised to return him the hundred florins.
Then he called to the miser, and said, „Tell us now, you vagabond, where you got that gold, or I shall play on for your amusement only,“ „I stole it,“ said the miser in the presence of all the people; „I acknowledge that I stole it, and that you earned it fairly.“ Then the countryman stopped his fiddle, and left the miser to take his place at the gallows.
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Interpretations
Linguistics
„The Miser in the Bush“ is a classic fairy tale from the Brothers Grimm, characterized by its themes of justice, cleverness, and magical intervention. The story begins with a faithful and hardworking servant who labors for three years without pay. When he finally asks his miserly farmer master for his due wages, he’s given a meager three pence—one penny for each year of his service. The servant, despite being underpaid, remains optimistic and sets out into the world with his earnings.
His journey takes a magical turn when he encounters a dwarf who, moved by the servant’s kindness in giving away his entire earnings, grants him three wishes. With these wishes, the servant attains a magical bow that never misses, a fiddle that compels anyone who hears it to dance uncontrollably, and the ability to have his requests granted by others.
The tale takes a humorous yet moral turn when the servant meets a rich but greedy miser. Using his magical fiddle, the servant makes the miser dance uncontrollably in a thorn bush until the miser agrees to pay him a hundred florins for his release, money the miser had deceitfully acquired himself. Despite the miser’s attempt at revenge by accusing the servant of theft, the servant cleverly uses his third wish at his trial to turn the situation in his favor. He plays his fiddle again, causing the judge, the jury, and everyone present to dance. In the end, the judge promises the servant his freedom and his money back when the miser confesses his wrongdoing, revealing the servant’s honesty and the miser’s deceit.
This fairy tale highlights themes of justice being served in a whimsical manner, where the honest and kind-hearted are rewarded while the greedy receive their comeuppance. It serves as a moral lesson on the virtues of kindness, the pitfalls of greed, and the clever use of wit and magical gifts to overcome adversity.
„The Miser in the Bush“ by the Brothers Grimm is a fairy tale rich with themes of justice, retribution, and the triumph of honesty and kindness over greed and deceit. There are several interpretations one could draw from this story:
Karmic Justice: One of the most prominent themes in the tale is the idea of karmic justice. The servant, despite being treated poorly and underpaid by his miserly master, shows kindness to the dwarf and is rewarded with magical gifts. Meanwhile, the miser who seeks to exploit others for his gain ultimately faces the consequences of his actions. The story suggests that those who act with greed and malice will eventually face retribution, while those who are kind and honest will be rewarded.
The Power of Simplicity and Generosity: The protagonist’s simple-heartedness and generosity when he gives away his threepence to the dwarf highlight the value of selflessness. His lack of attachment to wealth leads to greater rewards and illustrates the moral that true richness comes from kindness and goodwill rather than material possessions.
Use and Misuse of Power: The magical items granted to the servant symbolize power and how it can be utilized. The bow and fiddle allow him to control situations and people, bringing justice and rectifying wrongs. However, it also touches on the idea that power must be wielded wisely and only used to correct wrongdoing rather than for exploitation.
Critique of Social Injustice: The tale can be interpreted as a critique of societal structures where those in power exploit the vulnerable. The initial injustice faced by the servant, working without fair pay, is emblematic of broader social inequities. The institutions (represented by the judge and court) initially fail to hear the servant’s side until they experience the fairy tale’s magical intervention, suggesting that justice systems are flawed and can be subverted by those who know how to manipulate them.
Redemption and Confession: At the climax of the story, the miser confesses to his own greed and wrongdoing. This scene underscores a belief in redemption through admission of guilt and the opportunity for truth to lead to justice. The miser’s public confession is both freeing and sealing his fate, illustrating an ultimate moral reckoning.
Ultimately, „The Miser in the Bush“ serves as a thought-provoking tale exploring the consequences of one’s actions, the value of kindness, and the complex interplay of justice and power, packaged in a narrative that is both whimsical and instructive.
Linguistic analysis of the Brothers Grimm fairy tale „The Miser in the Bush“ can be broken down into several components, such as narrative structure, thematic elements, character analysis, and language features.
Here’s a detailed analysis:
Narrative Structure
Exposition: The story begins by introducing a farmer and his servant. The servant has worked without pay for three years, highlighting the initial inequality.
Rising Action: The servant receives threepence for his service and encounters a dwarf who grants him three wishes. This introduces the magical element typical of fairy tales.
Climax: The servant uses one of his magical items, the fiddle, to punish a miser by making him dance uncontrollably, exposing his greed.
Falling Action: The miser attempts to exact revenge by reporting the servant to the judge, leading to a trial scene.
Resolution: The servant uses his fiddle again to acquit himself, revealing the miser’s deceit and resulting in justice being served.
Thematic Elements
Greed and Generosity: The miser represents greed, while the servant, through his kindness to the dwarf, embodies generosity. The contrast between these values is central to the plot.
Justice and Retribution: The tale emphasizes a moral lesson where justice prevails—greed leads to downfall, and honest, simple-hearted actions lead to rewards.
Magical Realism: The granting of three wishes by the dwarf incorporates the fairy tale’s magical element, serving as a catalyst for the protagonist’s journey.
The Servant: He is portrayed as simple-hearted and honest. His naivety in valuing threepence highlights his lack of materialism, while his generosity brings him fortune.
The Miser: A foil to the servant, he embodies selfishness and deception. His downfall serves as a moral lesson against greed.
The Dwarf: Acts as a magical benefactor, rewarding the servant’s kindness with wishes. This character introduces the magical element essential for the tale’s progression.
Language Features
Dialogue: The story uses dialogue effectively to reveal character intentions and emotions, such as the servant’s naivety and the miser’s desperation.
Repetition: The use of phrases and actions repeated throughout the story (e. g. , playing the fiddle) emphasizes the magical influence and provides rhythm to the narrative.
Descriptive Language: Vivid descriptions, particularly of the miser’s comic dance and his eventual plight, enhance the imagery and humor of the story.
Moral Tone: The language carries an implicit moral tone, typical of fairy tales, guiding the reader toward the „lesson“ of the story—kindness and honesty lead to rewards, while greed results in embarrassment and punishment.
Socio-Cultural Context
Economic Disparity: The initial setup highlights socioeconomic disparities and the exploitation of workers, a topic that resonates with broader social contexts of the Brothers Grimm’s era.
Folkloric Tradition: The narrative structure and themes fit well within the oral tradition of storytelling, characterized by straightforward plots with clear moral outcomes.
Overall, „The Miser in the Bush“ uses its narrative and linguistic elements to convey timeless morals wrapped in the charm of magical realism, reflective of the Brothers Grimm’s ability to blend social commentary with entertainment.
Information for scientific analysis
Fairy tale statistics | Value |
|---|---|
| Readability Index by Björnsson | 30.1 |
| Flesch-Reading-Ease Index | 80 |
| Flesch–Kincaid Grade-Level | 7.4 |
| Gunning Fog Index | 9.9 |
| Coleman–Liau Index | 7 |
| SMOG Index | 8.2 |
| Automated Readability Index | 7.5 |
| Character Count | 5.988 |
| Letter Count | 4.541 |
| Sentence Count | 55 |
| Word Count | 1.173 |
| Average Words per Sentence | 21,33 |
| Words with more than 6 letters | 103 |
| Percentage of long words | 8.8% |
| Number of Syllables | 1.458 |
| Average Syllables per Word | 1,24 |
| Words with three Syllables | 41 |
| Percentage Words with three Syllables | 3.5% |
