# The Death of the Little Hen explained — Household Tales

> Chapter companion for Household Tales by Jacob Grimm.

## What happens

The little hen finds a large nut kernel but tries to eat it alone, causing it to lodge in her throat. She sends the little cock for water, but a chain of requests delays him, and she chokes to death. The cock, distraught, organizes a funeral procession with animals, but a series of accidents leads to the drowning of all participants, and the cock dies of grief beside the hen's grave.

## Themes in this chapter

### Promises and Their Consequences

The hen breaks her promise to share the nut kernel, leading to her death and a cascade of fatal events.

### Greed and Its Downfall

The hen's greed in keeping the kernel for herself results in her choking and the subsequent demise of all involved.

## Character check-ins

### the little hen

Finds a large nut kernel, tries to eat it alone, chokes and dies.

### the little cock

Runs errands for water, organizes funeral, dies of grief.

## Key lines

> Then the hen found a large, large nut, but said nothing about it, intending to eat the kernel herself.

The hen discovered a big nut but kept quiet, planning to eat the kernel alone.

_Highlights the hen's selfish decision that triggers the tragedy._

> Then the little cock was left alone with the dead hen, and dug a grave for her and laid her in it, and made a mound above it, on which he sat down and fretted until he died too, and then everyone was dead.

The cock buried the hen alone, then grieved on her grave until he also died, leaving no survivors.

_Emphasizes the total loss and the cock's fatal grief._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-death-of-the-little-hen
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/household_tales_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/household_tales_se/chapters