Rumpelstiltskin in English | Stories for Teenagers | @EnglishFairyTales

Summary

In a small kingdom near a dark forest, a miller's daughter is tasked with spinning straw into gold by a greedy king. After failing, she receives help from a mysterious little man, Rumpelstiltskin, who demands her firstborn in exchange for his magic. Years later, the queen, now a mother, must guess his name to save her child. After trying many names, she finally learns the name 'Rumpelstiltskin' and outwits him, causing his demise. The queen and her child live happily with the king, free from the little man's curse.

Takeaways

• 😀 A poor miller's daughter is forced to spin straw into gold by the greedy king after her father boasts about her abilities.
• 😀 The miller lies about his daughter’s ability to spin gold, leading to dire consequences for her.
• 😀 A mysterious little man appears to help the miller's daughter spin straw into gold in exchange for valuable items.
• 😀 The girl offers her necklace and later a ring to the little man to help her with the spinning, as she has nothing else to give.
• 😀 The greedy king promises to marry the miller's daughter if she spins more gold, leading her to promise the little man her firstborn child.
• 😀 The miller's daughter becomes queen after successfully spinning the gold, but soon forgets her promise to the little man.
• 😀 The little man returns to claim the child, but the queen begs for mercy and is given a chance to guess his name.
• 😀 The queen tries to guess the little man’s name after sending out a messenger to find all the names he could be called.
• 😀 On the third day, the queen learns the little man's name, Rumpelstiltskin, from a messenger who overhears it.
• 😀 The queen successfully guesses the little man's name, causing him to lose his power and vanish, and she lives happily ever after.

Q & A

What is the central conflict in the story of 'Rumpelstiltskin'?

The central conflict revolves around the miller's daughter being forced to spin straw into gold by the king. She must do this under the threat of death, and later, she is coerced into making a deal with Rumpelstiltskin, who demands her firstborn child in exchange for helping her.

How does the miller's daughter first get out of the situation with the king?

The miller's daughter is saved by Rumpelstiltskin, who spins the straw into gold for her in exchange for her necklace. This helps her avoid the king's wrath and proves her supposed magical ability.

What price does the miller's daughter agree to pay Rumpelstiltskin for his help the second time?

The miller's daughter offers her golden ring in exchange for Rumpelstiltskin's help when she is again tasked with spinning a larger room of straw into gold.

What is the major twist in the story when the miller's daughter is forced to promise Rumpelstiltskin her firstborn child?

The major twist occurs when the miller's daughter, having no other option, agrees to promise Rumpelstiltskin her firstborn child in exchange for him spinning all the straw into gold. This deal becomes the central point of her dilemma later on.

Why does the miller's daughter eventually regret her promise to Rumpelstiltskin?

The miller's daughter regrets her promise because she loves her child deeply and does not want to give it up, despite having promised Rumpelstiltskin her firstborn in exchange for his help.

How does the miller's daughter attempt to outsmart Rumpelstiltskin?

The miller's daughter attempts to outsmart Rumpelstiltskin by trying to guess his name, which would free her from the promise and allow her to keep her child.

What clue does the queen’s messenger uncover that helps her guess Rumpelstiltskin's name?

The queen’s messenger learns that Rumpelstiltskin is a comical little man who dances around a fire and sings about his name, which is revealed as 'Rumpelstiltskin' during this observation.

What happens when the queen correctly guesses Rumpelstiltskin’s name?

When the queen correctly guesses Rumpelstiltskin’s name, he is enraged, and in his fury, he tears his foot in half, leading to his demise. The queen is then able to keep her child and live happily.

How does the king react to the miller's daughter's spinning ability?

The king is initially skeptical but becomes impressed by the gold spun from straw. He demands more gold, which leads to the miller's daughter being put in increasingly difficult situations, eventually offering her hand in marriage.

What role does the miller's exaggeration play in the story?

The miller’s exaggeration of his daughter’s abilities sets the story in motion. His boastful claim that she can spin straw into gold forces his daughter into a dangerous situation, where she has to use her wits to survive and protect her family.