The Three Billy Goats Gruff – A Norwegian Folktale of Cleverness and Courage
A Norwegian folk tale about three goats who outwit a wicked troll with bravery and cleverness to cross a bridge and reach better pastures. The story teaches that courage and the ability to find solutions in tough situations can overcome evil.
Description: This is a Norwegian folk tale about three goats who outsmart a troll to cross a bridge and reach better pastures. The story teaches courage, cleverness, and the importance of teamwork in difficult situations.
Once upon a time, there were three goat brothers, each of whom was special in his own way. The oldest goat was big and strong, the middle one was fast and nimble, and the youngest was clever and quick-witted.
One day, they learned that on the other side of the river were green pastures full of lush grass. However, to get there, they had to cross a bridge guarded by an evil troll. The troll was very hungry and threatened to eat anyone who dared to cross the bridge.
The oldest goat went first and saw the troll. "I am going to the other side," he said. "You won’t eat me, I’m too big and strong!"
The troll replied, "I will eat you, you won’t get past me!" But the oldest goat was strong and unafraid. He bravely stood before the troll and kept moving forward. "I will fight for my life, because my brothers are waiting on the other side!"
The troll, seeing such determination, became a little afraid but still tried to grab the goat. However, the oldest goat, using his strength, ran past the troll and jumped over the bridge.
Next came the middle goat. He was fast and nimble, and as soon as the troll tried to catch him, he ran past with incredible speed, saying, "I may not be as big as my brother, but I can run faster than you!"
The troll, unable to catch him, also let the middle goat pass.
Finally, the youngest goat came. He was small but very clever. When the troll tried to catch him, the goat offered him a deal: "If you eat me, you will stay hungry. But if you let me pass, I will show you much fatter goats on the other side." The troll, intrigued, agreed to let the goat pass, thinking the young one was telling the truth.
Thus, all three goats crossed the bridge and reached the pasture, where they enjoyed the fresh grass, while the troll remained hungry.
Moral: Sometimes cleverness and courage can help defeat even the most fearsome enemies. Be determined and use your mind to overcome challenges.
Questions for Children:
- Why did each goat use their own method to outsmart the troll?
- What qualities helped the goats cross the bridge?
- Why do you think the youngest goat offered the troll a deal?
- What can we learn from the goats in this story?
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