Household Tales · Chapter
The Twelve Huntsmen explained
A prince betrothed to a maiden is forced by his dying father to marry another princess.
What happens
A prince betrothed to a maiden is forced by his dying father to marry another princess. The forsaken bride, with her father's help, gathers eleven maidens who resemble her, disguises them all as huntsmen, and enters the service of her former betrothed. Despite the king's lion revealing their secret, the maidens pass tests of strength and restraint. Eventually, during a hunt, the true bride faints upon hearing of the king's impending marriage, and the king recognizes her by the ring he had given her. He acknowledges her as his true wife and sends away the other bride.
Themes in this chapter
Promises and Their Consequences
The prince's promise to his dying father forces him to break his vow to his first love, leading to a series of deceptions and tests.
Transformation and Redemption
The maiden transforms herself and her companions into huntsmen to reclaim her love, and the king ultimately redeems his faithfulness by recognizing her.
Characters to notice
- the maiden
The prince's first betrothed who disguises herself and eleven maidens as huntsmen to be near him.
- the young King
The prince who becomes king and is forced to marry another, but ultimately recognizes his true bride.
- the servant
A servant loyal to the huntsmen who warns them of the lion's tests.
- the princess
The king's betrothed who is sent away after the true bride is recognized.
Key passages
“There was once a King’s son who was betrothed to a maiden whom he loved very much. And when he was sitting beside her and very happy, news came that his father lay sick unto death, and desired to see him once again before his end. Then he said to his beloved, “I must now go and leave thee, I give thee a ring as a remembrance of me. When I am King, I will return and fetch thee.””
A prince, deeply in love with his betrothed, is called away by his dying father. He gives her a ring and promises to return for her once he becomes king.
Establishes the initial bond and the promise that sets the story in motion.
“He sent a messenger to the other bride, and entreated her to return to her own kingdom, for he had a wife already, and a man who had just found an old dish did not require a new one.”
The king sends the other princess away, saying that a man who has rediscovered his original love has no need for a new one.
The king's blunt dismissal of the second bride underscores the tale's resolution and the value placed on the original promise.