Hungarian Folk Tales: The Diligent Girl and the Lazy Girl (S03E11)

Summary

In a Hungarian folk tale, a diligent girl is abandoned by her stepmother and embarks on a journey to find work, encountering talking trees and a dog who offer rewards for her kindness. She serves fairies, obeying their rules and earning treasure. Meanwhile, the lazy step-sister faces misfortunes for her selfishness. The tale contrasts the virtues of hard work and kindness with the consequences of laziness and pride, culminating in the diligent girl's triumphant return and a happy life with her father.

Takeaways

• 👵👴 The story features an old man and an old woman, each with a daughter from a previous marriage, highlighting a blended family dynamic.
• 😠 The old woman is depicted as cruel, showing favoritism towards her own daughter and driving away the stepdaughter due to her dislike.
• 🚶‍♀️ The stepdaughter embarks on a journey to find work, encountering various talking elements of nature that offer her help in return for her assistance.
• 🍐 The pear tree, grapevine, oven, well, and a small dog all ask for the girl's help, promising rewards for her kindness and hard work.
• 🧹 The girl's journey leads her to a house inhabited by fairies, where she is offered employment with specific instructions and prohibitions.
• 🏠 The fairies' house has a mysterious seventh room that the girl is warned not to enter, creating an element of suspense and temptation.
• 💰 After a year of service, the girl is rewarded with gold and silver for her loyalty, and additional gifts from the entities she helped along her journey.
• 😡 The old woman's daughter, in contrast, refuses to help any of the talking elements and faces negative consequences for her laziness and arrogance.
• 🐸 The lazy girl's curiosity leads her to disobey the fairies' instructions, resulting in harm and a lack of reward for her service.
• 🔙 On their return, both girls are recognized by the talking cockerel, whose proclamations reflect the outcomes of their respective journeys.
• 🏡 The story concludes with the stepdaughter's triumph and the old woman and her daughter's departure, leading to a happy ending for the stepfather and his daughter.

Q & A

What is the main conflict between the old woman and her stepdaughter?

The old woman does not like her husband's daughter and is always angry with her, eventually chasing her away from home to seek work with a rich family.

What does the pear tree ask the diligent girl to do in return for a good deed?

The pear tree asks the girl to rid it of its dry branches.

What task does the grapevine request from the young girl?

The grapevine asks the girl to hoe around its roots.

What does the crumbling oven want the girl to do for it?

The oven wants the girl to make it tidy and clean.

What does the broken-down well ask the girl to do?

The well asks the girl to make it tidy and clean and bail out the stale water.

What does the tiny dog ask the girl to do in exchange for a good deal?

The dog asks the girl to wash, brush, and trim it.

What is the condition set by the fairies for the girl to stay and work for them?

The fairies ask the girl to sweep out six rooms every day but strictly forbid her from entering the seventh room.

What does the fairy offer the girl as payment for her work?

The fairy offers the girl to lie down on gold and silver coins, and whatever sticks to her as she rolls over will be her payment.

Why does the old woman's daughter refuse to help the pear tree, grapevine, oven, and well?

The old woman's daughter refuses to help because she does not want to ruin her pretty white hands and lovely tiny feet.

What happens to the old woman's daughter when she opens the seventh room?

She is bitten and stung by frogs and snakes, leaving her covered in blood and without any payment for her work.

How does the cockerel announce the return of the diligent girl and the lazy girl?

The cockerel crows differently for each girl, announcing the diligent girl as coming home covered in silver and gold, and the lazy girl as coming all covered in blood.

What is the final outcome for the old man and his daughter after the quarrel with the old woman and her daughter?

The old woman and her daughter leave the old man's home, and the old man and his daughter live happily ever after.

Outlines

00:00

😇 The Trials of the Diligent Girl

In this Hungarian folk tale, we follow the story of a diligent girl who is mistreated by her stepmother and sent away to seek work. Along her journey, she encounters various elements of nature that ask for her help, promising rewards in return. She diligently helps a pear tree, a grapevine, an oven, a well, and a small dog, all of whom offer her good deeds in return. Eventually, she finds employment with fairies who instruct her to clean six rooms daily but to avoid the seventh. After a year of faithful service, she is rewarded with gold and silver coins that stick to her body and additional gifts from the creatures she helped earlier. Her journey home is marked by the generosity of those she assisted, culminating in a joyous return to her father's house.

05:04

😡 The Lazy Girl's Folly

Contrasting the first tale, this paragraph narrates the story of the lazy girl, the stepmother's daughter, who is sent on a similar journey with the expectation of outperforming the diligent girl. However, her arrogance and refusal to assist the pear tree, grapevine, oven, well, and the dog lead to her receiving no help or rewards. She is employed by the same fairies but succumbs to curiosity and enters the forbidden seventh room, only to be attacked by frogs and snakes. Her disobedience results in no payment for her work. Throughout her return journey, she is denied the fruits of her earlier refusals to help and is publicly humiliated by the cockerel's crow, which announces her return covered in blood. This leads to a family dispute, resulting in her and her mother leaving the home, while the diligent girl and her father live happily ever after.

Keywords

💡Diligent

Diligent refers to being hardworking, persistent, and careful in one's efforts. In the video's narrative, the 'Diligent Girl' exemplifies this trait by performing various tasks asked of her by the pear tree, grapevine, oven, well, and the dog, which ultimately leads to her being rewarded by the fairies. Her diligence is a central theme, contrasting with the 'Lazy Girl's' refusal to work.

💡Lazy

Lazy is the antonym of diligent, indicating a lack of willingness to work or use energy. The 'Lazy Girl' in the script is characterized by her laziness, as she consistently refuses to perform tasks that might dirty her hands or feet, which results in her receiving no rewards and ultimately coming home covered in blood.

💡Reward

A reward is something given in recognition of service, effort, or achievement. The script emphasizes the concept of reward through the diligent girl's interactions with various elements of nature and the fairies, where her good deeds are met with valuable returns such as gold coins, pearls, and food.

💡Fairy

Fairy typically refers to a mythical creature with magical powers. In the video, fairies live in a beautiful house and offer the diligent girl employment, setting specific conditions for her work. They represent the supernatural element in the story that tests the girl's obedience and ultimately rewards her for her faithful service.

💡Curiosity

Curiosity is the desire to know or learn something. The script uses curiosity negatively when describing the lazy girl's decision to open the seventh room, against the fairies' instructions, leading to her punishment by frogs and snakes. This highlights the theme of consequences for disobedience.

💡Obligations

Obligations are duties or tasks that one is expected to perform. The diligent girl's obligations include sweeping rooms and avoiding the seventh room, which she fulfills, demonstrating her commitment and reliability. The lazy girl, however, fails to meet her obligations, leading to her downfall.

💡Punishment

Punishment is the act of imposing a penalty or suffering in response to wrongdoing. The script illustrates punishment when the lazy girl, succumbing to her curiosity, is bitten and stung by the frogs and snakes in the forbidden room, resulting in her leaving without any reward.

💡Treasure

Treasure refers to something highly valued and sought after, often in the form of wealth or precious items. The diligent girl is rewarded with treasure in the form of gold coins and pearls, symbolizing the value of her hard work and adherence to the rules set by the fairies.

💡Transformation

Transformation is a profound change in form, appearance, or character. The script implies transformation in the girl's life as a result of her experiences, from a homeless girl to one who is wealthy and respected, showcasing the power of hard work and good deeds.

💡Quarrel

A quarrel is a heated argument or disagreement. The script concludes with a quarrel between the old man and the old woman, sparked by the contrasting outcomes for their respective daughters, which leads to the old woman and her daughter leaving, allowing the old man and his daughter to live happily.

💡Happiness

Happiness is a state of well-being and contentment. The script concludes with the old man and his daughter living happily ever after, symbolizing the moral of the story that diligence and good deeds lead to a happy and fulfilling life.

Highlights

The story begins with two families, each with a daughter, and the old woman's dislike for her husband's daughter.

The old woman's daughter is chased away to find work with a rich family.

The diligent girl encounters a pear tree that offers a good deed in return for help.

The girl assists a grapevine, which promises a good deal in return for her help.

A crumbling oven asks for the girl's help and promises a good deed in return.

The girl cleans a broken-down well and is promised a good deed in return.

A tiny dog asks to be cleaned and trimmed, promising a good deal in return.

The girl encounters a house inhabited by fairies who offer her employment as a servant.

The girl is warned not to enter the seventh room while working for the fairies.

After a year of faithful service, the girl is rewarded with gold and silver.

The girl is given pearls by a grateful dog on her way home.

The girl enjoys the fruits of the pear tree as a reward for her earlier kindness.

The cockerel's crow foretells the girl's triumphant return home adorned with wealth.

The old woman's disbelief in the cockerel's announcement contrasts with the reality of the girl's success.

The old woman's daughter also sets out to work for a rich family, expecting to earn more.

The lazy girl refuses to help any of the entities she encounters, prioritizing her appearance over assistance.

The lazy girl's curiosity leads her to disobey the fairies' instructions, resulting in harm.

The lazy girl leaves the fairy's house without any payment due to her disobedience and injuries.

The entities that the diligent girl helped earlier now refuse to assist the lazy girl.

The cockerel's crow reveals the lazy girl's failure and return home injured.

The story concludes with the old man and his daughter living happily ever after, contrasting with the old woman and her daughter's departure.

Transcripts

Hungarian Folk Tales: The Diligent Girl and the Lazy Girl

Once upon a time there lived an old man and an old woman

and each had a daughter from their previous marriage.

The old woman was always angry with her husband's daughter and did not like her the slightest bit.

Things went from bad to worse until one day the old woman chased the girl away from home

saying that she should seek work with a rich family.

The girl walked and walked and was walking past a pear tree when the tree spoke to her:

Where are you going?

I'm going to find a job as a servant with a rich family – the young girl replied.

Come here and rid me of my dry branches, and I will do you a good deed in return.

Then the young girl walked on her way until she passed a grapevine and the vines spoke to her:

Come here and hoe around my roots and I will do you a good deal in return.

Then the young girl walked on her way until she passed a crumbling oven.

Please come here and make me tidy and clean and I will do you a good deed in return.

Then the young girl walked on her way until she came across a broken-down well.

Where are you going?

I journey to find work.

Please come here, and make me tidy and clean and I will do you a good deed in return.

So the young girl did as she was bid and bailed the stale water out of the well.

And walked on her way until she met a tiny dog.

And the dog said:

Please wash me, brush me and trim me and I will do you a good deal in return.

The young girl cleaned and trimmed the dog

and the dog thanked her and she walked on her way.

Until she saw a beautiful house.

There were fairies living in the house.

The fairies asked the purpose of her journey and so the young girl told them:

Then the fairy said:

Why don't you stay here and become our servant?

There are seven rooms, you have to sweep out six rooms every day

but you must never go to the seventh room.

So the young girl worked for a year in a day and at the end of the year the young girl said:

I would like to leave now and go home to show my parents what I've earned.

You have been a faithful maid – the fairy said.

You did as you were told so now we will tell you what you have earned.

Come here and lie down atop these gold coins, roll over and whatever sticks to you is yours.

And now go and roll over on the silver coins and whatever sticks to you is yours.

The girl did as she was told then stood up and bid farewell to the fairies.

On her way home she came across the little dog again that said:

Come here and take as many pearls as you wish.

The dog was covered in pearls and the young girl took the pearls and hung them around her neck.

She walked on her way until she reached the well again.

Where jugs hung so that people could drink from its sweet water.

The young girl was thirsty and so she took a drink and walked on her way.

When she reached the oven again she noticed it was filled with bread and cake.

And the oven said:

Come here and eat your fill in return for your good deed.

She ate as much as she could, packed more to take home and then walked on her way.

Next she reached the grapevine that hung heavy with ripe fruit.

So here the girl stopped and ate and drank as much as she could.

Then the girl walked on her way again until she came to the pear tree.

And the pear tree said:

I've been waiting for you as all my pears arrived.

As the girl neared home the cockerel crowed to announce her arrival:

Cocka-doodle-dooo! My mistress is coming home covered in silver and gold!

The young girl heard the cockerel squall and ran home to bring joy at last to her old father.

Cocka-doodle-dooo! My mistress is coming home covered in silver and gold.

The old woman shouted: Be quiet, that's not true!

Once again the cockerel said:

Cocka-doodle-dooo! My mistress is coming home covered in silver and gold.

The old woman said:

You've earned very nicely indeed, but now my own daughter will go forth

and work for a rich family and she will earn a great deal more than you've managed.

When the old woman's daughter reach the pear tree it said:

Come here and rid me of my dry branches and I will do you a good deal in return.

The girl said:

I will not ruin my pretty white hands of my lovely tiny feet, no matter what happens.

When the girl reached the grapevine it asked her to how its roots,

and to expect a good deal in return.

But once again the girl refused to do anything that might ruin her pretty white hands

and her lovely tiny feet, no matter what happened.

Next she reached the oven.

The oven asked her to repair it and it would do her a good deed in return.

But the girl said she would not ruin her pretty white hands and her lovely tiny feet

with disgusting mud and clay, no matter what happened.

Next she came to the broken-down well.

Please come here and make me tidy and clean.

But again she refused to dirty her pretty white hands and her lovely tiny feet, no matter what happened.

Then she met the little dog that said:

Come here and trim me!

But she refused to touch the dog because she would not dirty her pretty white hands

and her lovely tiny feet, no matter what happened.

Next she reached the beautiful big house and asked that she be allowed to sleep there for the night.

The fairies living there asked her where she was going and so she told them.

In reply they asked her to stay and work as their maid.

They said:

Here there are six rooms and you must sweep them every day

but you must never enter the seventh room.

The girl did as she was told and swept the six rooms every day and ignored the seventh.

But after a while her curiosity forced her to open the door to the seventh room.

To her horror she saw that it was filled with frogs and snakes, and they bit and stung her so terribly

that by the time she managed to escape, she was covered in blood.

And so she left the fairy's house with no payment at all.

On her way home she met the dog who went up to ask for some pearls.

The dog said:

You refused to help me and now I refuse to help you.

The girl reached the well and was very thirsty but was not allowed to drink.

When she reached the oven it was packed with fresh bread and cakes, but she could not eat any of them

because when she reached inside for some it burned her hands terribly.

When she reached the grapevine she tried to pick a bunch of grapes

and to drink a glass of wine but the grapevine pushed her hand away.

And when she reached the pear tree she could not pick a single pear.

As she neared home the cockerel caught sight of her and flew to the top of the fence

and let it be known to everyone that:

Cocka-doodle-dooo! My mistress is coming all covered in blood.

The old woman went to the fence and said: That's not true, she's covered in gold!

But the cockerel repeated:

Cocka-doodle-dooo! My mistress is coming all covered in blood.

The old woman said: That's not true because she's covered in gold!

The cockerel repeated:

Cocka-doodle-dooo! Here comes my mistress all covered in blood.

That's not true, that's not true! – shouted the old lady.

But the old man said:

Now you can see that my daughter earned more as a maid than yours ever did.

This led to such a quarrel that the old woman and her daughter left the old man's home.

Then the old man and his daughter lived happily ever after.