The Moon in the Well – A German Folk Tale about Curiosity and Wisdom
The German folk tale "The Moon in the Well" tells the story of children who try to retrieve the moon’s reflection from the water and learn to distinguish between the real and the illusory.
Brief Description:
The Moon in the Well is a German folk tale about children who try to retrieve the moon’s reflection from the water. It teaches them to recognize the difference between reality and illusion and to be mindful of the world around them.
In a village near an old forest, there was a deep well. Water from the well was rarely drawn because a stream flowed nearby. But the children loved this well. During the day, they peered into it to see their reflections, and in the evening, they would tell each other what secrets it might hide. One warm summer evening, several children gathered around the well to admire the stars. Suddenly, one of them shouted: — Look! The moon has fallen into the well!
They all rushed to the edge and peered inside. At the bottom of the well, the round, bright moon was reflected in the water. The children were amazed: — We need to get it! — said the bravest boy. — This is our moon, and it shouldn’t stay down there. They began discussing how to retrieve it. One suggested lowering a rope, another wanted to scoop the water with a bucket, and a third suggested building a long hook.
The children built a hook out of sticks and ropes and began lowering it into the well. But no matter how hard they tried, the moon remained out of reach. Each time they scooped water, the reflection disappeared and then appeared again. — Why can’t we catch it? — wondered the boy. — Maybe the moon is too slippery? — suggested the girl. But the youngest among them suddenly exclaimed: — Look up! The moon has been in the sky all along. What we see in the water is just its reflection!
All the children looked up and laughed. They realized that the moon had never fallen into the well. Its beauty had simply reflected on the still surface of the water. — That means not everything we see can be caught, — said the girl wisely. — Yes, but it was fun! — added the boy, smiling.
From then on, the children often returned to the well. They no longer tried to catch the moon but enjoyed watching its reflection, understanding that the beauty of nature can be closer than it seems. And they also learned that sometimes it’s enough just to look up to see the truth.
The Moral of the Story:
The story teaches us that not everything we see is real. It highlights the importance of mindfulness and teaches children to appreciate the beauty of the world around us.
Questions for Children:
- Why did the children think the moon had fallen into the well?
- How did they try to retrieve it?
- What did they learn from this story?
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