Fair Katrinelje and Pif-Paf-Poltrie explained

Folk Tale Name:Fair Katrinelje and Pif-Paf-Poltrie
Aarne-Thompson Grouping:ATU 2019
Country:Germany
Published In:Grimms' Fairy Tales

"Fair Katrinelje and Pif-Paf-Poltrie" is a German fairy tale collected by the Brothers Grimm in Grimm's Fairy Tales as tale 131.[1] A nonsense tale, it was introduced into the first edition as number 45 of the second volume.[2]

It is Aarne-Thompson type 2019,[3] one of a number of chain tales, or cumulative tales.

Synopsis

Pif-Paf-Poltrie asks Fair Katrinelje's father for leave to marry her. He is told he needs that of "her mother Milk-Cow, her brother High-Pride, her sister Cheese-Love," as well as her own. Going through the list, he obtains it, on the condition of all the others consenting. Fair Katrinelje is last; then she lists her dowry: some pennies, a debt, roots, pretzels, and dried pears—a fine dowry. She guesses at his occupation, and he declares it is finer than what she guesses until she guesses broommaker.

Notes and References

  1. Jacob and Wilheim Grimm, Household Tales, "Fair Katrinelje and Pif Paf Poltrie"
  2. [D. L. Ashliman]
  3. [D. L. Ashliman]