The Golden Goose
Simpleton shares food with a little gray man, receives a goose with golden feathers. Those who try to steal feathers stick fast, forming a comic chain—leading to a princess’s laughter and a happy marriage from generosity.
Story beats
- 1) Youngest son shares his meal; rewarded with a golden goose.
- 2) Greedy innkeeper’s daughters try plucking feathers, stick to the goose; more people stick, forming a parade.
- 3) The sight makes a melancholy princess laugh—fulfilling a royal challenge.
- 4) Simpleton marries the princess; generosity and humor win over status.
Context & symbolism
The tale flips expectations: the simple, kind son succeeds while greedy, clever ones fail. Golden feathers lure greed; sticking shows consequences of grasping. Laughter heals melancholy, humor as medicine.
Common fairy-tale pattern: kindness to a helper leads to fortune.
Motifs
- Lucky helper rewarding kindness
- Adhesive punishment for greed
- Princess’s laughter challenge
- Youngest-son victory
Use it in play
- Magic item causing would-be thieves to stick together.
- Quest to make a sad noble laugh with absurd spectacle.
- Reward for sharing supplies with a disguised spirit.