The Water Nixie
"The Water Nixie" or "The Water-Nix" is a fairy tale collected by the Brothers Grimm, tale number 79.[1] It came from Hanau.[2]
| The Water Nixie | |
|---|---|
| Folk tale | |
| Name | The Water Nixie |
| Also known as | The Water Nix |
| Aarne–Thompson grouping | ATU 313A |
| Country | Germany |
| Published in | Grimms' Fairy Tales |
It is Aarne-Thompson type 313A, the girl helps the hero flee and revolves about a transformation chase.[3] Others of this type include The Master Maid, Jean, the Soldier, and Eulalie, the Devil's Daughter, The Two Kings' Children, Nix Nought Nothing, and Foundling-Bird. The Grimms noted Sweetheart Roland as an analogue.[2]
Synopsis
A brother and sister fell into a well, where a nixie caught them and made them work for her. One Sunday while she was at church, they ran away. The nixie chased them. The girl threw a brush, which became a mountain with thousands of spikes, which the nixie got through with great effort. The boy threw a comb behind them, which became mountains with thousands of teeth, which the nixie got through with great effort. The girl threw a mirror behind them, which became a mountain too slick for the nixie to climb. She went back to get an axe, but before she could chop through the mountain, they escaped.
See also
References
- The Water Nixie
- Jacob and Wilheim Grimm, Household Tales, "The Water-Nix" Notes.
- D.L. Ashliman, "The Grimm Brothers' Children's and Household Tales (Grimms' Fairy Tales)"
