Herr Korbes (Grimm)

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Herr Korbes
ger. Herr Korbes · 1812
Summary of a Fairy Tale
The original takes ~2 min to read
Microsummary
A rooster and hen traveled by mouse-drawn cart to a cruel man's house. A cat, duck, egg, pin, and millstone joined them. They hid inside, ambushed him with ashes, water, and pricks, then crushed him.

Division into chapters is editorial.

The journey begins and companions gather

A cock and a hen decided to take a journey together to the house of Herr Korbes.

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The Cock — male rooster, leader of the group, builds a carriage, speaks for the group, takes initiative in the journey.

There were once a cock and a hen who wanted to take a journey together. So the cock built a beautiful carriage, which had four red wheels, and harnessed four mice to it.

The hen seated herself in the carriage with the cock, and they drove away together.

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The Hen — female chicken, companion to the cock, travels in the carriage, perches with the cock.

Not long afterwards they met a cat who asked where they were going. The cock replied that they were going to the house of Herr Korbes. The cat requested to join them, and the cock willingly agreed, telling the cat to get up behind so it wouldn't fall off in front.

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The Cat — feline, first to join the journey, sits by the hearth, throws ashes in Herr Korbes' face.

Take great care not to dirty my little red wheels. And you little wheels, roll on, and you little mice pipe out, as we go forth on our way to the house of Herr Korbes.

As they continued their journey, more creatures joined their party. A millstone approached and asked to come along, followed by an egg, then a duck, then a pin, and finally a needle.

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The Millstone — heavy grinding stone, joins the group, positions itself over the door, delivers the fatal blow to Herr Korbes.
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The Mice — four small rodents, harnessed to pull the carriage, draw the carriage into the barn.

After this came a millstone, then an egg, then a duck, then a pin, and at last a needle, who all seated themselves in the carriage, and drove with them.

Arrival at Herr Korbes house and preparing the trap

When they reached the house of Herr Korbes, they discovered that he was not there. The mice drew the carriage into the barn, while the hen flew with the cock upon a perch.

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The Duck — waterfowl, joins the group, positions on the well-pole, splashes water in Herr Korbes' face.

Each of the companions found a strategic hiding place to prepare their trap. The cat sat down by the hearth, ready to strike. The duck positioned itself on the well-pole where it could splash water.

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The Egg — chicken egg, joins the group, hides in a towel, breaks and glues up Herr Korbes' eyes.
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The Pin — sharp fastening object, joins the group, hides in chair-cushion, pricks Herr Korbes when he sits.
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The Needle — sewing needle, joins the group, hides in the pillow, pricks Herr Korbes when he lies down.

The egg rolled itself into a towel, the pin stuck itself into the chair-cushion, the needle jumped on to the bed in the middle of the pillow, and the millstone laid itself over the door.

With all the companions hidden in their chosen positions, the trap was perfectly set and they waited for Herr Korbes to return home.

Herr Korbes return and his punishment

When Herr Korbes finally came home, he went to the hearth and was about to light the fire.

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Herr Korbes — man, homeowner, described as very wicked, victim of the group's revenge plot, dies at the end.

Then Herr Korbes came home, went to the hearth, and was about to light the fire, when the cat threw a quantity of ashes in his face.

He ran into the kitchen in a great hurry to wash off the ashes, and the duck splashed water in his face. He wanted to dry himself with the towel, but the egg rolled up against him, broke, and glued up his eyes. Seeking rest, he sat down in the chair, and then the pin pricked him.

He wanted to rest, and sat down in the chair, and then the pin pricked him. He fell in a passion, and threw himself on his bed, but as soon as he laid his head on the pillow, the needle pricked him.

Herr Korbes screamed aloud and was just going to run out into the wide world in his rage, but when he came to the house-door, the millstone leapt down and struck him dead.

The tale concluded with the observation that Herr Korbes must have been a very wicked man to deserve such a fate. The coordinated attack by all the creatures suggested that his wickedness was well-known and that justice had been served through their collective revenge. Each creature had played its part perfectly in the elaborate trap that led to his demise.