The Wedding of Mrs. Fox
"The Wedding of Mrs. Fox" is two German fairy tales collected under the same title by the Brothers Grimm in Grimm's Fairy Tales as number 38.[1] It was included in all editions.[2]
It is Aarne-Thompson type 65, Mrs. Fox's Suitors.[3]
Synopsis
In one variant, Mr. Fox feigns death to test his wife's fidelity. In the other, he actually dies. Many suitors arrive. Mrs. Fox rejects them: in the first variant because while they are foxes they do not have the nine tails of her husband, and in the second, because they are wolves, bears, etc. and do not look like her dead husband.
One suitor arrives who does resemble him and a wedding is held. If Mr. Fox feigned death, he arises and drives them all out.
Motifs
The word for "tail" used has an obscene meaning to make her preference clear.[2]
In popular culture
- The Wedding of Mrs. Fox is featured in Grimm's Fairy Tale Classics.
References
- ↑ Jacob and Wilheim Grimm, Household Tales, "The Wedding of Mrs. Fox"
- 1 2 D.L. Ashliman, Mrs. Fox's Wedding
- ↑ D.L. Ashliman, "The Grimm Brothers' Children's and Household Tales (Grimms' Fairy Tales)"