The Louse and the Flea

The Louse and the Flea
The Louse and the Flea
Folk tale
Name	The Louse and the Flea
Also known as	Little Louse and Little Flea
Aarne–Thompson grouping	ATU 2022 (An Animal Mourns the Death of a Spouse)
Country	Germany
Published in	Grimms' Fairy Tales

"The Louse and the Flea" or "Little Louse and Little Flea" (German: Läuschen und Flöhchen) is a German fairy tale collected by the Brothers Grimm, number 30.[1]

It is Aarne-Thompson type 2022, An Animal Mourns the Death of a Spouse,[2] and takes the form of a chain tale, sometimes known as a cumulative tale. Wilhelm Grimm probably heard the story from Dorothea Catharina Wild in 1808.

Synopsis

A louse and a flea are married until the louse drowns while brewing. The flea mourns, inspiring a door to ask why and start creaking, which inspires a broom to ask why and start sweeping—through a sequence of objects until a spring overflows at the news and drowns them all.

Variants

In some versions the louse and the flea are replaced by a ladybird and a fly.[3]

References

Jacob and Wilheim Grimm, Household Tales, "The Louse and the Flea"
D.L. Ashliman, "The Grimm Brothers' Children's and Household Tales (Grimms' Fairy Tales)"
Lily Owens, ed. (1981). The Complete Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales. pp. 129–131. Avenel Books. ISBN 0-517-336316

External links

"Mourning the Death of a Spouse:chain tales of Aarne-Thompson type 2022" by D. L. Ashliman

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[grimm-1] Jacob and Wilheim Grimm, Household Tales, "The Louse and the Flea"

[Ashliman-2] D.L. Ashliman, "The Grimm Brothers' Children's and Household Tales (Grimms' Fairy Tales)"

[Owens-3] Lily Owens, ed. (1981). The Complete Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales. pp. 129–131. Avenel Books. ISBN 0-517-336316

The Brothers Grimm
Jacob Grimm · Wilhelm Grimm
Works	Grimms' Fairy Tales Deutsche Sagen Deutsche Mythologie Deutsches Wörterbuch
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