The Seven Ravens
Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm
Summary
‘The Seven Ravens’ is a story of love and sacrifice. The fairy tale shows the dedication and patience of a sister towards her brothers.
The story reveals that a man and his wife have seven sons and no daughter. Finally, a daughter is born, but she is so weak that they fear she might die. The man sends his seven sons to the spring to fetch water to baptize her. In their haste, they drop the pitcher into the well. When they don’t return home, the impatient man thinks that his sons have gone off to play. He curses them, wishing that they may all be turned into ravens. When his words are uttered, the seven coal-black ravens fly over the house. The parents grieve over the loss of their seven sons.
The girl grows stronger and beautiful. Her parents don’t reveal to their daughter the truth about her seven brothers. When she knows about it, she sets out in search of her brothers. She travels till the end of the world. She is discouraged by the sun and the moon. Finally, she reaches the stars. The morning star helps her by giving a key to unlock the ice berg in which her brothers are shut up. But, she loses it. She puts her little finger into the lock instead of a key. She opens it and enters the iceberg.
A dwarf comes to her and tells her that the seven ravens are not at home but she can wait till they return. She takes some of their food and drink. She puts a ring she brought from home, into the last cup. The seven ravens get in. She hides behind the door. They notice that somebody consumes some of their food and drink. This makes them angry.
One of the ravens finds a ring. They know that the ring once belonged to their parents. They wish their sisters would come there to save them. She stood before them. At the same time, they are restored back into their human forms. They kiss and hug each other and in great happiness start off to their parents.
Exploring the Text
1. Who drops the pitcher into the well in 'The Seven Ravens'?
Answer: The seven brothers drop the pitcher into the well.2. Why does the father curse his sons to turn them into ravens?
Answer: The father curses his sons to turn them into ravens because he thinks they have gone off to play and are not returning home.3. What helps the girl in her search for her brothers in 'The Seven Ravens'?
Answer: The morning star helps the girl in her search for her brothers by giving her a key to unlock the ice berg in which her brothers are shut up.4. How does the girl open the lock of the ice berg when she loses the key?
Answer: The girl puts her little finger into the lock instead of a key to open the lock of the ice berg.5. Who helps the girl when she enters the ice berg in 'The Seven Ravens'?
Answer: A dwarf helps the girl when she enters the ice berg.6. What does the girl put in the last cup of the food and drink of the seven ravens?
Answer: The girl puts a ring she brought from home into the last cup of the food and drink of the seven ravens.7. What makes the seven ravens angry when they return home in 'The Seven Ravens'?
Answer: The seven ravens get angry when they notice that somebody consumes some of their food and drink.8. How do the seven ravens recognize their sister when she comes to save them?
Answer: The seven ravens recognize their sister when she comes to save them because she wears a ring that once belonged to their parents.9. What happens to the seven ravens when they are restored back into their human forms?
Answer: When the seven ravens are restored back into their human forms, they kiss and hug each other and start off to their parents in great happiness.10. What is the main theme of 'The Seven Ravens'?
Answer: The themes of 'The Seven Ravens' are love and sacrifice, highlighting the sister's dedication and patience in her quest to rescue her brothers.
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