Herr Korbes Explained

"Herr Korbes" (German; Translation: Mr. Korbes) is a German fairy tale collected by the Brothers Grimm, number 41.[1] They found it in both the district of the Main (from Jeanette Hassenpflug) and Hesse (from Lisette Wild).[1]

It is Aarne-Thompson type 210, The Traveling Animals and the Wicked Man.[2] Another tale of this type is the Grimms' The Pack of Ragamuffins.[3]

Synopsis

A cock and a hen go to Herr Korbes's house in a carriage drawn by mice. Along the way, they pick up a cat, millstone, an egg, a duck, a pin, and a needle. Herr Korbes is not at home; they go in and when he returns, they attack and kill him.[4]

Variants

In their third edition, the Grimms added a sentence to the end, that Korbes must have been a wicked man.

Notes and References

  1. Jacob and Wilheim Grimm, Household Tales, "Herr Korbes"
  2. [D. L. Ashliman]
  3. [D. L. Ashliman]
  4. Book: Grimm, Jacob. Kinder und hausmärchen: gesammelt durch die Brüder Grimm. 1857. Dieterich. de.