The Louse and the Flea

"The Louse and the Flea" or "Little Louse and Little Flea" (German: Läuschen und Flöhchen) is a German fairy tale collected by the Brothers Grimm, number 30.[1]

The Louse and the Flea
Folk tale
NameThe Louse and the Flea
Also known asLittle Louse and Little Flea
Aarne–Thompson groupingATU 2022 (An Animal Mourns the Death of a Spouse)
CountryGermany
Published inGrimms' Fairy Tales

It is Aarne-Thompson type 2022, An Animal Mourns the Death of a Spouse,[2] and takes the form of a chain tale, sometimes known as a cumulative tale. Wilhelm Grimm probably heard the story from Dorothea Catharina Wild in 1808.

Synopsis

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A louse and a flea are married until the louse drowns while brewing. The flea mourns, inspiring a door to ask why and start creaking, which inspires a broom to ask why and start sweeping—through a sequence of objects until a spring overflows at the news and drowns them all.

Variants

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In some versions the louse and the flea are replaced by a ladybird and a fly.[3]

References

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  1. ^ Jacob and Wilheim Grimm, Household Tales, "The Louse and the Flea"
  2. ^ D.L. Ashliman, "The Grimm Brothers' Children's and Household Tales (Grimms' Fairy Tales)"
  3. ^ Lily Owens, ed. (1981). The Complete Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales. pp. 129–131. Avenel Books. ISBN 0-517-336316
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