Household Tales · Characters
Character guide
Key figures in Household Tales by Jacob Grimm.
the girl
major
Also known as The girl, herself
A central focal character in many tales, often a narrator or protagonist.
the maiden
major
Also known as the maiden, The maiden
A recurring focal character, often a young woman in various stories.
the youth
major
Also known as the youth, The youth
A common protagonist in many tales, often a young man on a journey.
Clever Hans
major
Also known as Hans, The good Hans, Stupid Hans, dear Hans, stupid Hans
A recurring character in multiple tales, often a simple or clever young man.
the boy
major
Also known as the boy, The boy
A frequent protagonist in various stories, often a child or young lad.
Hans the Hedgehog
supporting
Also known as Hans, old Hans
A half-hedgehog boy who seeks acceptance and a bride.
the son
major
Also known as the son, The son
A recurring character, often a young man in family-centered tales.
Unknown
minor
A placeholder for unnamed narrators or generic focal characters.
Brother Lustig
supporting
Also known as Brother
A wandering soldier who tricks and bargains with St. Peter.
the princess
major
Also known as the princess, The princess
A common royal character in many tales, often a bride or damsel.
Thumbling
supporting
Also known as little Thumbling, therefore Thumbling, Happily Thumbling, poor Thumbling
A tiny boy who uses his size to outwit others and go on adventures.
Grethel
supporting
Also known as poor Grethel, Clever Grethel
A clever girl who outsmarts a witch and saves her brother.
the young King
supporting
Also known as The young King, the young king
A youthful monarch appearing in several tales as a protagonist.
the drummer
supporting
Also known as The Drummer, The drummer
A brave drummer who rescues a princess from a glass mountain.
the master
minor
Also known as The master
A generic authority figure in various tales, often a craftsman or employer.
Mrs. Cat of Kehrewit
minor
Also known as Mrs. Cat, Catherine
A feline character who marries and schemes in animal tales.
St. Peter
supporting
Also known as So St. Peter, this St. Peter, Therefore St. Peter
The apostle who appears as a wandering figure testing humans.
Faithful John
supporting
Also known as Most faithful John, John, dear John
A loyal servant who sacrifices himself to save his king.
Little Snow-White
major
Also known as Snow, Snow-white, little Snow-white, Little Snow
A beautiful princess who flees her jealous stepmother and lives with dwarfs.
the rich man
minor
Also known as the Rich Man
A wealthy but often unkind character in moral tales.
the poor man
minor
Also known as the poor man, The poor man
A humble character who often receives magical help or rewards.
the servant
minor
Also known as The servant
A generic servant character appearing in many tales.
a swineherd's daughter
minor
Also known as a swineherd ’s daughter
A low-born girl who becomes a queen through cleverness.
the luck-child
minor
Also known as the luck - child
A fortunate child who succeeds against all odds.
the stranger
minor
Also known as The stranger
A mysterious visitor who appears in various tales.
the two children
minor
Also known as The two children
A pair of siblings who appear together in several stories.
Master Pfriem
minor
Also known as Pfriem
A grumpy cobbler who learns a lesson about contentment.
Clever Elsie
minor
Also known as Elsie, Lisa
A girl who thinks herself clever but makes foolish mistakes.
Cinderella
major
A mistreated girl who wins a prince with the help of magic.
old Mr. Fox
supporting
Also known as young Mr. Fox, the late Mr. Fox, Fox, Mr. Fox, a Fox, The Fox, the Fox, little Fox, the trusty Fox
A cunning fox character appearing in multiple animal tales.
Hänsel
supporting
A boy who, with his sister, outwits a witch in the forest.
Death
supporting
A personified figure who grants gifts and takes souls.
Rapunzel
major
A girl with long hair imprisoned in a tower by a witch.
Frederick
minor
A character in various tales, often a prince or young man.
Little Redcap
major
Also known as Redcap, the little Redcap, little Redcap
A girl who visits her grandmother and meets a wolf.
Bearskin
supporting
Also known as bearskin
A soldier who makes a pact with the devil and wears a bearskin.
Ferdinand
minor
Also known as Ferdinand the Faithful
A faithful servant who overcomes trials with magic help.
Allerleirauh
supporting
A princess who flees her father's unwanted marriage and works as a scullery maid.
Simpleton
supporting
Also known as the Simpleton
A naive youngest son who succeeds where his brothers fail.
Mrs. Fox
minor
Also known as Mrs. Fox First Story
A fox's wife who remarries after his supposed death.
Saint Peter
supporting
Also known as Peter, The apostle Peter
The apostle who appears as a heavenly gatekeeper and wanderer.
Maid Maleen
supporting
Also known as Maleen
A princess imprisoned for seven years who later finds her prince.
the master-thief
supporting
Also known as The master-thief, The Master-Thief
A clever thief who outwits a king with impossible tasks.
Joringel
minor
A young man who rescues his love Jorinda from a witch.
the Virgin Mary
minor
Also known as The Virgin Mary, Mary
The mother of Jesus who appears as a helper in religious tales.
the judge
minor
Also known as The judge
A legal authority figure in various tales.
Dummling
minor
A simple-minded youngest son who wins a princess through kindness.
Marlinchen
minor
Also known as little Marlinchen
A girl who helps her brothers and faces a witch.
Trina
minor
Also known as fat Trina, Harry, lazy Harry and fat Trina
A lazy wife who lives carelessly with her husband Harry.
Old Rinkrank
minor
Also known as Rinkrank
A troll-like figure who imprisons a princess in a glass mountain.
his master
minor
Also known as His Master
A generic master of a servant or apprentice.
Conrad
minor
A boy who appears in a tale about a magic table and a talking bird.
little Two-eyes
minor
Also known as Two-Eyes, Two-eyes
A girl with two eyes who is mistreated by her sisters.
Gambling Hansel
minor
Also known as Hansel
A compulsive gambler who loses everything to the devil.
Frau Trude
minor
A witch who lures and punishes a curious girl.
Master Schulz
minor
Also known as Schulz
A foolish tailor who imagines himself a hero.
the servants
minor
Also known as The servants
A group of generic servants in various tales.
the Griffin
minor
Also known as Griffin, The Griffin
A mythical creature who gives advice or tests heroes.
my master
minor
Also known as My master
A master referred to by a servant or animal.
the Flounder
supporting
Also known as Flounder
A magical fish who grants wishes to a fisherman's wife.
Old Sultan
minor
Also known as Sultan
An aging dog who outwits his master to avoid being killed.
the doctor
minor
Also known as The doctor, The Doctor
A medical figure appearing in various tales.
Sweetheart Roland
minor
Also known as Roland
A young man who rescues his love from a witch.
master
minor
Also known as Master
A generic title for an employer or teacher.
Eve
minor
The biblical first woman, appearing in a tale about children's fates.
Lina
minor
A girl who appears in a tale about a magic bird and a tree.
Kate
minor
A character in a humorous tale about a foolish wife.
the priest
minor
Also known as The priest
A religious figure appearing in various tales.
the head-servant
minor
Also known as The head-servant
A senior servant in a household.
Briar-Rose
major
Also known as Briar-rose, Rose-red, Rose, The Rose
A princess who sleeps for a hundred years until a prince wakes her.
the Devil
supporting
Also known as The Devil, Stupid Devil
A tempter figure who makes bargains with humans.
Lazy Harry
minor
Also known as Harry
A lazy man who avoids work with his equally lazy wife.
their former master
minor
A past employer of servants or animals.
Fundevogel
minor
A foundling boy who escapes a witch with his foster sister.
the servant who took away the dish
minor
A minor servant in a tale about a magic table.
Benjamin
minor
The youngest of twelve brothers who protects his sister.
Herr Korbes
minor
A man whose house is invaded by animals seeking shelter.
Domestic Servants
minor
Generic household staff in various tales.
Uele
minor
A character in a tale about a magic fiddle and dancing.
the captain
minor
Also known as The captain
A military officer in various tales.
Mother Holle
supporting
Also known as Mother
A magical woman who rewards hard work and punishes laziness.
St. Joseph
minor
The foster father of Jesus, appearing as a helper in the forest.
Bear
minor
Also known as Dear hunstman, Dear Bear, the Bear, Dear Mr. Bear
A bear character in various animal tales.
King Thrushbeard
supporting
A king who disguises himself to teach a proud princess humility.
