Household Tales · Chapter
How Six Men Got on in the World explained
A discharged soldier, skilled in arts, gathers five extraordinary companions: a strong man who uproots trees, a huntsman who can shoot a fly's eye from two miles away, a blower who can turn windmills, a runner who outpaces birds, and a man
What happens
A discharged soldier, skilled in arts, gathers five extraordinary companions: a strong man who uproots trees, a huntsman who can shoot a fly's eye from two miles away, a blower who can turn windmills, a runner who outpaces birds, and a man whose hat controls frost. They compete for the King's daughter in a race, survive the King's attempts to kill them by fire, and ultimately win the kingdom's treasure through strength and cunning, living contentedly thereafter.
Themes in this chapter
Virtue Rewarded and Vice Punished
The clever and loyal companions outwit the treacherous King, who is punished by losing his treasure.
Greed and Its Downfall
The King's greed leads him to attempt murder and ultimately lose his entire wealth to the six men.
Characters to notice
- the servant
The discharged soldier who gathers the six companions and leads them.
- the King
The antagonist who tries to kill the six men and later pays them off with gold.
- the princess
The King's daughter who races the runner and is nearly won as a bride.
- the strong man
One of the six companions who can uproot trees and carries the massive sack of gold.
- the huntsman
The sharp-eyed companion who shoots the horse's skull to save the runner.
- the runner
The swift companion who races the princess and wins the contest.
Key passages
“There was once a man who understood all kinds of arts; he served in war, and behaved well and bravely, but when the war was over he received his dismissal, and three farthings for his expenses on the way.”
A skilled soldier was discharged after the war with only three farthings as payment.
Sets up the protagonist's motivation to seek fortune.
“Then full of anger he went into the forest, and saw a man standing therein who had plucked up six trees as if they were blades of corn.”
Angry, he entered the forest and found a man who uprooted six trees like they were corn stalks.
Introduces the first extraordinary companion.
“I am a runner, and to stop myself running far too fast, I have taken off one of my legs, for if I run with both, I go quicker than any bird can fly.”
The runner explains he removes one leg to slow down, as he is faster than any bird.
Highlights the runner's superhuman speed.
“Then the King saw that a fierce fire was burning under the iron room, and perceived that there was no getting the better of the six in this way.”
The King realized the six men survived the fire and could not be defeated by that method.
Shows the King's failed attempt to kill them.
“Then the six conveyed the riches home, divided it amongst them, and lived in content until their death.”
The six men took the treasure home, shared it, and lived happily ever after.
Concludes the tale with a happy ending.