The Story of Rumpelstiltskin (Grimms Fairy Tales)
In a small kingdom lived a miller and his daughter, Elisa.
The miller loved to brag. Often it was harmless but sometimes his bragging slid into lies. Small ones, big ones, but this time he went too far.
One day he boasted to King Leopold that his daughter was so clever she could spin straw into gold. Elisa covered her face in embarrassment, but the King’s eyes flashed with greed. “Gold?” he said. “Then bring her to my castle at once!”
Because the miller had bragged and lied, Elisa was brought to the castle and faced a task no one could be expected to do.
King Leopold led Elisa to a tower room piled high with dry, dusty straw. “Here is the straw,” the King said. “If this is not spun into gold by morning, you will pay the price for your father’s boast.” The King left, pulling the door closed and turning a massive key in the outer lock. The straw smelled sharp and dusty and the spinning wheel gave a low hum in the corner. Elisa sank onto a low stool, staring at the golden light fading in the small window. Elisa wept, knowing the task was impossible.
Suddenly, a strange little man, hardly taller than the stool, magically popped into the room. “Why are you crying, little miller’s daughter?” he squeaked. When Elisa explained, the little man offered, “I will spin the straw for you. What will you give me?” Desperate, Elisa gave him her favorite silver necklace. The little man whirred and spun all night, and by dawn, the room glittered with spun gold.
The King was thrilled but not satisfied. “Excellent! Now for a bigger test,” the King said, locking her in a second, larger room piled like a mountain with straw.
Just as before, the strange little man appeared when she was most helpless. “What will you give me this time?” he asked. Elisa had only her ring left, which she handed over with a sigh. Again, the little man took the straw and spun it into a room full of gold, then vanished with a puff of smoke.
The King, delighted by the second room of gold, clapped his hands. “One last trial,” he said. “Spin this largest room into gold, and you shall be my Queen.” Elisa stood alone.
The little man appeared, and she had nothing left to give. He chuckled, “Then promise me your first-born child.” Her heart hammered. Promises mattered, but she was trapped. Fear closed in. Horrified, Elisa promised. The straw became gold. Elisa became Queen.
In time, the palace bells rang with happier news: Elisa was expecting a child and when the baby was born, the whole kingdom rejoiced. She held her sweet baby close, her days filled with joy. Then, one quiet afternoon, he reappeared in the royal nursery. “Queen,” he squeaked, his eyes glinting, “I have come for what you promised.”
Queen Elisa sobbed and begged, offering all the wealth of the kingdom.
“I want your child!” he insisted.
“Please,” Elisa said, standing tall though she trembled, “give me a fair chance to save my child. Set me a challenge.”
The little man laughed, certain she would fail. “I’ll give you three days for this challenge: if you can guess my name before the sun sets on the third day, you may keep the child.”
Elisa called her most trusted servant. “Go out and bring me every unusual name you hear. Ask the woodcutters, farmers and travellers. If you pass the woods after dark and hear singing or see a lone fire, keep hidden and listen.”
For two days she tested each name he gathered, one by one, while the sun slid toward the horizon and the nursery shadows grew long. That night, the servant spotted a red glow in the trees, crept close and saw the little man dancing round a fire and singing…
“Round I twirl, round I spin
What’s my name? You’ll never win
I’m Rumpelstiltskin!”
The third day, the little man returned, his smile huge and wicked. “What is my name, Queen?” he chirped. Elisa met his gaze, steady and calm. She looked him straight in the eye and said, clearly, “Is your name… Rumpelstiltskin?”
The little man shrieked a terrible, furious scream. He stamped so hard the stone floor cracked like ice. A whirl of smoke wrapped around him, the crack widened with a sharp snap and in a rush of wind he was gone, vanished from the castle and never seen again.
Later, the miller came to the palace in shame. He apologized to Elisa for his lies but she forgave him. He promised to speak the truth from then on.
Parent Notes on Rumpelstiltskin (Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales)
Lying & Consequences
This Brothers Grimm story shows how a lie, even a “small” one, can snowball and put others in trouble. Talk about the miller’s choice:
- Why did he lie?
- Who was affected?
- What could he have said instead?
You might ask:
“How do we fix it when we’ve lied?”
Brainstorm honest ways to make amends. Remind children that truth builds trust and that asking for help beats telling a fib.
Bragging, Greed & Promises
This Grimm fairy tale opens up big conversations about bragging, greed, and promises made under pressure. You might ask:
- What should Elisa have done when she felt trapped?
- Who else could she ask for help?
- How can we slow down before agreeing to something big?
For sensitive readers, remind them the ending is make-believe, and that names and honesty have power in stories.
Discussion Questions: Learning from Rumpelstiltskin
Why did the miller brag, and who was affected by his choice?
He bragged to impress the King and make himself look important. His lie hurt Elisa most, because she was taken to the castle, and it also encouraged the King’s greed.
What options did Elisa have when she felt trapped in the tower?
Very few—she could cry for help, try to bargain, or accept help from the little man. Later, she used a smarter option: organize a name-search and follow clues to solve the challenge.
Why is keeping promises important, and what should we do if we make a promise we can’t keep?
Promises build trust. If you make a promise you can’t keep, tell the truth quickly, say sorry, and make a fair plan to put things right.
How did Elisa show courage or cleverness? Where else in life do we need those?
She stayed calm, set clear tasks for her servant, and used information to win back her child. We need the same courage and clever thinking at school, in friendships, and when solving tricky problems.
If you heard someone bragging in a way that could hurt another person, what could you do?
Speak kindly but honestly, and don’t repeat the false claim. If the brag could cause harm, tell a trusted adult and try to support the person who might be hurt.
Related Brothers Grimm Stories
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