East of the Sun and West of the Moon

“East of the Sun and West of the Moon.” Scandinavian folk & fairy tales: tales from Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, edited by Claire Booss, New York: Avenel Books, 1984, pp. 63-71.

Tale Summary Once upon a time there lived a poor tenant who had many children but no money to feed and clothe them. One Thursday evening, a white bear knocked on the door and asked for the man’s youngest daughter (who was the most lovely) in exchange for great riches...

The Sprig of Rosemary

“The Sprig of Rosemary.” Rose Fairy Book, Andrew Lang, New York: Longmans, Green, 1948, pp. 107-113.

Tale Summary Once upon a time there was a girl whose father made her work hard every day, and one morning she was sent out to collect firewood. After she had made a large bundle, she stopped to pick a sprig of rosemary for herself, but it would not budge...

The White Wolf

“The White Wolf.” The Grey Fairy Book, edited by Andrew Lang, London: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1905, pp. 168-177.

Tale Summary Once upon a time there was a king who had three daughters, the youngest being the loveliest. One day, he set out for a tour elsewhere in his kingdom, and had promised the girl to bring her back a wreath of wildflowers, but could not find any. On...

The Brown Bear of Norway

“The Brown Bear of Norway.” The Lilac Fairy Book, edited by Andrew Lang, New York: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1910, pp. 118-131.

Tale Summary There was once a King of Ireland who had three lovely daughters. One day, the King playfully asked his girls who they would like to marry. While two speak of high class gentlemen, the youngest said that she would marry the Brown Bear of Norroway, for she had...

The Serpent

“The Serpent." Stories from the Pentamerone, by Giambattista Basile; selected and edited by E.F. Strange, London: Macmillan; 1911, pp. 110-121.

Tale Summary Once upon a time, there was a poor gardener’s wife named Sapatella who longed for a son. When her husband, named Cola Matteo, one day brought home a bundle of sticks and they found a little snake inside, she despaired that even snakes had children, but not her...

The Snake

“The Snake." The falcon under the hat: Russian merry tales and fairy tales, Selected and translated by Guy Daniels, New York: Funk & Wagnalls; 1969, pp. 29-31.

Tale Summary There was once a girl named Masha, who one day went with her friends for a swim and left her smock on the shore. After her friends had left, Masha found that there was a huge snake on her smock and was horrified. He lifted up its head...

The Black Bull of Norroway

“The Black Bull of Norroway.” Fairy Gold : A Book of Old English Fairy Tales Chosen by Ernest Rhys, Ernest Rhys, London: J.M. Dent & Co.; New York : E.P. Dutton & co., 1907, pp. 4-7.

Tale Summary Once upon a time there was a king with three daughters, the youngest of whom was the most beautiful and gentle girl ever seen but the older two rather ugly and proud. One night, the three were talking about who they might marry. The two oldest would not...