In this assignment, I try to retell the tale of Rumpelstiltskin (abridged). The original is by Fischart (1600s) or the Brother’s Grimm (1812) and originated in Germany.

 

In this story, a father brags to the king that his beautiful daughter can transform wheat into gold. The king, excited about this, asks for the daughter to come see him. He locks her in a tower and says that if she doesn’t transform a room full of wheat into gold thread in one night, he will kill her. The girl, obviously not knowing to do this, starts to cry. Suddenly, a little man appears. He tells her that he will spin the straw into gold thread for her if she gives him her gold necklace. The girl agrees. The little man spins all the wheat into gold. The next morning, the King is shocked, but quite happy. He gives her an even bigger room full of wheat. This time, he tells her that he will marry her if she does the same. The little man visits again. This time, the girl has nothing to offer, so the little man asks for her first-born child and the girl agrees. He changes all the wheat into gold, and the king marries the girl. A year later, she gives birth to a baby. The little man returns, but the girl desperately wants to keep her child. The little man gives her tree days to guess his name. The girl sends out a messenger to hunt for the strangest names. One night, he comes back and says that a little man was jumping around a fire joyously singing “Rumpelstiltskin is my name!” The next day, the girl says his name and he “breaks” before her eyes, and she lives happily ever after.