Household Tales · Chapter
The Grave-Mound explained
A rich, greedy farmer is confronted by his own conscience and makes a pact with a poor neighbor to watch his grave for three nights after his death.
What happens
A rich, greedy farmer is confronted by his own conscience and makes a pact with a poor neighbor to watch his grave for three nights after his death. The neighbor, joined by a fearless soldier, faces the Devil on the third night. Through a clever trick involving a boot, the soldier outwits the Devil, saves the rich man's soul, and the gold is shared with the poor.
Themes in this chapter
Greed and Its Downfall
The rich farmer's greed is confronted by his conscience, and his soul is nearly lost to the Devil, illustrating the destructive consequences of avarice.
Virtue Rewarded and Vice Punished
The poor man's faithfulness and the soldier's courage are rewarded with gold and peace, while the rich man's hard-heartedness leads to a lonely death and a struggle for his soul.
Promises and Their Consequences
The poor man's promise to watch the grave binds him to a dangerous task, but his integrity ultimately contributes to the rich man's salvation.
Characters to notice
- the rich man
A wealthy but hard-hearted farmer who, moved by a moment of mercy, gives corn to a poor neighbor in exchange for a promise to watch his grave.
- the poor man
A starving neighbor who accepts the rich man's condition and faithfully keeps his promise to watch the grave for three nights.
- the servant
A paid-off soldier with no fear, who helps the poor man watch the grave and outwits the Devil with a clever trick.
- the Devil
The Evil One who comes to claim the rich man's soul but is tricked by the soldier and forced to flee at sunrise.
Key passages
“Hast thou done good to thy family with it? Hast thou considered the necessities of the poor? Hast thou shared thy bread with the hungry? Hast thou been contented with what thou hast, or didst thou always desire to have more?”
Have you used your wealth to help your family and the poor, or have you only ever wanted more?
The rich man's conscience questions his life of greed and neglect.
“I have been hard and pitiless, and have never shown any kindness to my own family. If a beggar came, I turned away my eyes from him. I have not troubled myself about God, but have thought only of increasing my wealth.”
I have been cruel and selfish, ignoring both my family and the needy, caring only for my riches.
The rich man admits his failings to his own heart.
“When I am dead, thou shalt watch for three nights by my grave.”
After I die, you must keep vigil at my grave for three nights.
The condition the rich man imposes on the poor man in exchange for the corn.
“Sir with the red feather, you are not my captain, I have no need to obey you, and I have not yet learned how to fear.”
You are not my commander, so I don't have to listen to you, and I don't know what fear is.
The soldier boldly defies the Devil.
“Give what falls to my lot to the poor, I will come with thee to thy cottage, and together we will live in rest and peace on what remains, as long as God is pleased to permit.”
Give my share of the gold to the poor. I'll go home with you, and we'll live peacefully on the rest.
The soldier selflessly gives his portion to charity.