The Grimms' Tales book is an anthology of small stories.
Story One: Tom Thumb
Setting: Woodcutter's home, woods, barn, stomachs
Characters: Man, Wife, Tom Thumb, 2 men, 2 thieves, Maid, Wolf
Theme: There's always a way out of a problem
The first story is about a man and wife who wished they had a child even if he was no bigger than their thumb. That's exactly what they got! They named him Tom Thumb. One day men offered the man gold for Tom, but the man said no. Tom objected and told his father to take the gold and that he would back soon. Finally Tom escaped from the men and overheard 2 thieves talking. Tom offered to help them, but actually just talked about their plan really loudly so that they got caught. The thieves go caught by a maid, and meanwhile, Tom hid in some hay. The maid fed the hay to a cow, and when she came back she heard Tom screaming in it's stomach and killed the cow because she thought it was evil. Tom was making his way out of the cow's stomach when a wolf came up and ate him again. Tom told the wolf to go eat food from the woodcutter's home. Once they were there, Tom yelled for help and his father killed the wolf. Tom told his father about his adventures, and his father said they would never sell him again.
Story Two: The Fisherman and his Wife
Setting: Hut by the sea
Character: Fisherman, Wife, Magic Fish
Theme: Don't be greedy
One day, the fisherman caught a fish with gold and silver scales that claimed it was a prince. The man let it go since it could talk, and his wife said that fish could grant wishes. The man thought they already had everything, but she wanted a bigger house and a dress. The fish granted those wishes, but later she decided she wanted to be a queen and have a castle. Again, she was not satisfied, she wanted to be a pope. Then she wanted to be the ruler of the universe and make the sun rise. The man went to ask the fish and when he got home everything was as it was in the beginning. The man fished everyday and never saw that fish again.
Story Three: Hans in Luck
Setting: From Miller to home
Characters: Hans, Miller, Horseman, Farmer, Man, Woman, Grinder
Theme: Don't take what you have for granted, It's not what you have but who you have
Hans worked for a miller for 7 years and decided it was time to go home. The miller paid Hans a piece of gold that was the size of his head. As Hans was on his way home, the gold was getting too heavy. A horseman came by, and they decided to trade. Hands would get the horse and the man got the gold. The horse ended up throwing Hans off because he wasn't a horse rider. Then Hans saw a farmer with a cow and they traded the horse for the cow. Hans tried to milk the cow, but he was no good at it and the cow killed him. Next he saw a man with a pig and they traded the cow for the pig. The pig didn't want to move though, but Hans saw a woman with a goose. They traded the pig for the goose. The Hans met a grinder who liked the goose and he said that Hans should take his business. He traded the goose for the grindstone, but he got tired and had to drink from a fountain. The rock fell into the fountain, and then Hans was happy because he had nothing to carry now. He ran home and his mother greeted him. She was so happy, and he felt even luckier because she made him his favorite food and he got to sit in the most comfortable chair.
Story Four: The Seven Swabians
Setting: Outdoors
Characters: 7 Swabians
Theme: Not listening
Seven Swabians went out adventure with a spear. They came upon a rabbit and were scared so they held their spear to it and ran. They thought the rabbit was a monster. When they thought it was safe they came out of hiding. Then they came to a river and asked a man on the other side how to cross. He didn't hear so he said, "What?" They thought he said, "Wade." So they all walked into the water and sank except the last Swabian because he wasn't paying attention. He ran back to tell this story.
