# Frau Trude explained — Household Tales

> Chapter companion for Household Tales by Jacob Grimm.

## What happens

A disobedient and inquisitive girl ignores her parents' warnings and visits the wicked Frau Trude. Upon arriving, she describes terrifying visions—a black man, a green man, a bloodred man, and finally the devil himself. Frau Trude reveals she is a witch, turns the girl into a block of wood, and burns her in the fire.

## Themes in this chapter

### Virtue Rewarded and Vice Punished

The girl's disobedience and curiosity lead to her horrific punishment, reinforcing the moral that wicked behavior is met with dire consequences.

### Magic and the Supernatural

Frau Trude is a witch who uses magic to transform the girl into wood and burn her, and the girl's visions of colored men and the devil highlight supernatural elements.

## Character check-ins

### the maiden

The obstinate and inquisitive girl who disobeys her parents and visits Frau Trude.

### Frau Trude

The wicked witch who transforms the girl into a block of wood and burns her.

## Key lines

> There was once a little girl who was obstinate and inquisitive, and when her parents told her to do anything, she did not obey them, so how could she fare well?

A stubborn and curious little girl never listened to her parents, so it was no surprise that things ended badly for her.

_Opening moral framing of the tale._

> Then she changed the girl into a block of wood, and threw it into the fire. And when it was in full blaze she sat down close to it, and warmed herself by it, and said, 'That shines bright for once in a way.'

Frau Trude turned the girl into a log, tossed it into the fire, and as it burned, she sat nearby warming herself, remarking that it gave a nice bright light for a change.

_Climactic transformation and punishment._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/frau-trude
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/household_tales_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/household_tales_se/chapters