The Peasant and the Devil

"The Peasant and the Devil" (German: Der Bauer und der Teufel) is a German fairy tale collected by the Brothers Grimm, tale number 189.[1] It is Aarne-Thompson type 1030, man and ogre share the harvest.[2]

Synopsis

A peasant found a devil in his fields, sitting on a fire. He guessed he was sitting on treasure, and the devil offered it if for two years, half of the crop was his. The peasant agreed, and said that to prevent disputes, the half above the ground was the devil's, and the half below the peasant's. When the devil agreed, the peasant planted turnips.

When harvest time came, the devil saw his leaves and the peasant's turnips, and said they must do it the other way round the next year. The peasant agreed and planted wheat. At harvest, the devil found he got nothing but stubble. Having been outwitted twice, he retreated into the earth in a fury, and the peasant took the treasure.

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References
  1. Jacob and Wilheim Grimm, Household Tales, "The Peasant and the Devil"
  2. D.L. Ashliman, "The Grimm Brothers' Children's and Household Tales (Grimms' Fairy Tales)"
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